By Venus N Msyani
Has the Varieties Democracy Institute (V-Dem) 2024 Democracy Report cleared President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration? Among the locals Hichilema scores extremely poor when it comes to demonocracy, human rights, and good governance.
V-Dem 2024 Democracy Report has a positive news about Zambia. Hichilema didn’t hesitate to recognize that during his address to the parliament on the progress made in the application of National Values and Principles on Friday 15th 2024.
The report places Zambia at third position among nine nations grappling with the threat of autocratic rule. Included are Lesotho, Maldives, Brazil, Benin, Bolivia, North Macedonia, Thailand, and Tunisia.
Zambia comes after Lesotho and Maldives. The report says, while the rest continue to grapple with lower levels of democratic governance, Zambia has shown substantial progress in halting the encroachment of autocratic governance.
“Madam Speaker, we are committed to deepening our democracy. And constitutionalism, as the surest way through which our people can be assured of their freedom and right to participate in decision making.
Again, statistics are there, for everybody to see. The ratings are there, for everybody to see. We don’t have to say it ourselves. In this regard, we are delighted and honored that Zambia has been named among the top three most democratizing countries in the world.
Madam Speaker, this has been done by an independent credible organization called V-Dem. This recognition underscores our government continuous effort to promote the virtues of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law.”
Appearing unshaken and proud of his governance, President Hichilema spoke inside a parked parliament. Among the locals he scores very poor. Many Zambians don’t appreciate his version of democracy because it is not different from the previous version, which Zambians rejected on 12th of August 2021.
It is a democracy where it is okay to call someone a hater for not agreeing with President Hichilema. It is a democracy full of unnecessary arrests, intimidations, bullying, and brutality. Torture reports have been reported.
It has reached the point where some individuals and good governance advocates have started seeking help from the international community. Few days ago Our Civic Duty Association (OCIDA) petitioned the United States Government to impose sanctions against Hichilema and other top government officials. OCIDA cites the continued abuse of institutions of governance and the erosion of democracy under the leadership of President Hichilema.
About five months ago Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean E Tembo announced he has reported Hichilema to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. Mr. Tembo cites torture and failure to protest citizens.
On November 3rd 2023, right here on Lusaka Times, on Feature Politics appeared an article in which the author is asking the international community to help to force Hichilema to repeal the remaining oppressive laws.
There are many other negative reactions about Zambia current version of democracy. Has the V-Dem 2024 Democracy Report cleared Hichilema and his administration?
If you lived and still live in Zambia you know very well how citizens where treated in the previous regime. People were killed, some still live with bullets in their buttocks. There were restrictions of movements, markets were only for cadres, certain parts of the country were a no go areas for some citizens, Intercity bus station was like hell were people were terrorized, beaten and tortured. You mention any evil under the sun, it was here in the previous administration. Now can you compare all with the current New dawn administration? Some people are just bitter and jealous that the person they thought could not rule this country, is now on the driving seat.
Two wrongs do not make one right. Useless meaningless report. Zambia has gone to dogs. The king has spent whopping USD300 Millionon his useless trips abroad, locally he has spent whopping 400 million kwacha on showbiz. All this could have built 60 mega dams in central, southern, western, Lusaka, copperbelt and eastern provinces.
Zambians vote for clueless selfish elitist conmen as members of parliament and presidents.
Zambia needs federal system of government where provincial government has its own budget and accountability. All taxes shall accrue to provinces and a fixed percentage shall be allocated to defence, external affairs and titular head of state.
Bank of Zambia shall be an independent institution, all appointments shall be by public recruitment process.
The usual exaggerations by UPND operatives like you. For an ordinary citizens like me, things are far worse now. I am more afraid now than before.
money matters
March 17, 2024 At 5:27 am
“…Two wrongs do not make one right. Useless meaningless report. Zambia has gone to dogs. The king has spent whopping USD300 Millionon his useless trips abroad, locally he has spent whopping 400 million kwacha….”
$300 million on travel ????
That’s why GRZ is launching that financial literacy initiative……..
Some people have no idea of numbers……..
How can a country develop when citizens don’t know numbers ???
Mr Hakainde this is where you have missed the whole point. What do your employers (Zambian electorate) say about your democracy? Like economic development which you think will come from outside you believe that a piece of paper written by outsiders is more important than the complaints of real issues by your own people? Most Zambians identify with the complaints made by OCIDA save for a few sponsored souls to save face of UPND. Allow opposition to address their constituencies. Your incompetence Mr President is alarming.
To America the democracy that other nations practice doesn’t matter as long the nation’s leaders are favorite of the USA government.
There are countries like Egypt, Israel and other Gulf states that have no regard for human rights or plausible elections. But the USA will over look these shortcomings.
Just before the 2021 general election the USA Charge D’Affairs indirectly warned Edgar Lungu of Zimbabwe type of sanctions should he tamper with the outcome of that election.
I can’t imagine Zambia warning the USA for stealing Trumps election.
Performance should always be evaluated using a practical approach. Otherwise, it may be deemed as an opinion. If I resided in the Mahopu, Shantumbu area and had observed an incident, I would find it hard to believe if the news in the Times of Zambia reported it differently than what had actually happened. Regardless of whether V-Dem is involved or not, Zambians are aware of the democracy type they want and have the freedom to question some of the international findings. They say, “he who feels it knows it.”
HH is a western stooge and the Zambian people or electorate are the only ones fit to make a verdict on his performance
…..
“……Among the locals Hichilema scores extremely poor when it comes to demonocracy, human rights, and good governance……”
It should say
“…amogest some local groups…”
It is the clique and their theiving support embedded in PF who are mostly tribal supremacists that are complaining………
The west knows a country needs some form of laws otherwise we will be another Rwanda genocide case or a Zaire in the making……..
GRZ, don’t relent , arrest the provocative groups who want to subbotage our development……….
If you are unhappy with GRZ, wait hor 2026 instead of trying to impose your dirty pit latrine morals on Zambians with your insults and uncouth language and behaviour…….
Forwadee 2031………
With the so called interlect of many on here and around the country
We are exactly where we supposed to be as for going forward in the future wont happen
until we realise our seriously lacking capabilities
Tu chawa kuli tu ba zungu twachabe chabe.