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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Looking at the Management of the 2001 Zambian Tripartite Elections
Author:Kabemba, Claude KambuyaISNI
Year:2002
Periodical:Journal of African Elections
Volume:1
Issue:2
Period:September
Pages:11-26
Language:English
Geographic term:Zambia
Subjects:elections
2001
Politics and Government
Abstract:Two issues dominated the countdown to the 2001 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in Zambia: the campaign for a third term waged by President Frederick Chiluba and the opposition parties' talks of forming a coalition. But while the opposition parties agreed on an electoral pact, a minimum common programme and on a multiparty government, they failed to agree on a presidential candidate. This left them with no option but to continue campaigning under their own banner. The manifestos of the opposition parties indicate that in fact the parties were similar in substance. Nor did they differ much from the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). The electoral campaign was fought on moral grounds rather than on policies. The Electoral Commission (ECZ) started planning for the tripartite elections in 1999. Its main preparatory activities involved reviewing constituency boundaries, voter registration and conducting nominations. It also set up the National Voter Education Committee, the Conflict Management Committee and the International Observer Committee. Although no major incidents of violence or intimidation were reported, the electoral process was marred by the parties' unequal access to the media and general lack of respect for the electoral code of conduct. On election day, the atmosphere at polling stations was generally peaceful. However, it seems the ECZ underestimated the task at hand. A number of management problems marred the election proceedings, including delays in the delivery of voting materials, understaffing at polling booths, insufficient number of polling booths, and a late start to the counting and tabulation process which, moreover, was not well organized. The overall results were announced a week after the elections, and were rejected by all ten opposition parties. The President elect, Levy Mwanawasa, has initiated attempts at reconciliation. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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