Human Rights, Democracy and the Donors: The First MMD Government in Zambia

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Periodical article

Title:	Human Rights, Democracy and the Donors: The First MMD Government in Zambia
Author:	Bartlett, Dave
Year:	2001
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy
Volume:	28
Issue:	87
Period:	March
Pages:	83-91
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zambia
Subjects:	democracy political conditions human rights Movement for Multiparty Democracy 1990-1999 Politics and Government Law, Human Rights and Violence
External links:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03056240108704505 http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4D7D83AACB4EE64A1E89
Abstract:	After its 1991 multiparty elections Zambia was praised by Western donor countries and the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) as a beacon which heralded political transformation across the continent. Yet an exploration of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy's (MMD) political performance, its record in developing human rights, or the personal integrity of ministers would have revealed this acclaim to be unfounded. This contention is substantiated in this article through an examination of the areas of personal security and government/press relations. It is argued that donors' support for political reform was grounded in their desire for the implementation of structural adjustment programmes (SAP) and economic liberalizing measures, which resulted in the concept of democracy with which they were associated becoming discredited. Bibliogr., sum.