Lusaka, Zambia – Zambians vote on August 13 in general elections widely seen as a test of whether years of economic reform have translated into improvements in everyday life. About 8.79 million voters are registered for the poll, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia. Fourteen candidates are contesting the presidency, including Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the governing United Party for National Development (UPND), who is seeking a second term, and Brian Mundubile, the presidential candidate of the opposition Tonse Alliance.
Hichilema’s government points to progress on economic reforms, including Zambia’s debt restructuring and the completion of its IMF-supported programme. Inflation fell to 6.8 percent in April, according to the Zambia Statistics Agency, but high food, fuel and electricity costs continue to put pressure on households. Joan Chirwa, a human rights defender and veteran journalist based in Zambia and the founder of the Free Press Initiative, said many citizens are yet to see tangible improvements in their daily lives.
She acknowledged progress in Zambia’s debt restructuring and IMF programme, but said macroeconomic stability had not necessarily translated into improvements in household welfare, pointing to continued pressure from high food, fuel and electricity costs. Wellington Muzengeza, an independent political risk analyst and founder of Built Africa, said “the election is likely to be shaped by the gap between macroeconomic recovery and ordinary citizens’ experience.” While the government can point to debt restructuring, restored international credibility, free education and renewed mining investment, Muzengeza says voters are more likely to judge its record by food and transport costs, employment prospects, electricity reliability and the quality of public services. Economic hardship is a major concern for voters, according to Levy Ndou, a lecturer in political sciences and public policy at Tshwane University of Technology.
These are people with high expectations that government can change their lives,” Ndou tells Al Jazeera. Ndou identified unemployment as another major concern, saying economic hardship had left many Zambians frustrated and looking for leaders who could offer practical solutions. They have gone through very difficult economic hardships,” Ndou says.
Campaign promises, Ndou said, would only carry weight if they led to tangible improvements in people’s lives. Copper is another key election issue, with the mining sector a major source of foreign exchange and government revenue. Copper accounts for about 70 percent of Zambia’s export earnings and more than 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The government has set an ambitious target of raising annual copper production to 3 million tonnes. For Chirwa, however, the debate is not only about increasing production but also about how much of the revenue reaches Zambians. Debt restructuring is another key measure of the government’s economic record.
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