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Report on the Zambian election
Election Resource Centre
September 30, 2011

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1. Introduction

The Election Resource Centre embarked on an election study which coincided with the 20 September 2011 Tripartite elections in Zambia. A 7 member delegation which comprised of 2 ERC members of staff as well as 5 civic activists representing youths was deployed for the study.

2. Executive Summary

Elections in Zambia have, since 1992, been fiercely contested following the adoption of a multi-party democratic system. Zimbabwe and Zambia have a lot of interesting similarities especially beginning with the colonial history during which the two nations shared the same political architecture under the federal system for a few years. Such a background gave rise to a similar administrative system even after independence. More tellingly, political contestations in the two nations have transitioned from a one-party system to a multi-party governance system. Crucially, the electoral histories of Zimbabwe and Zambia have similarly been characterized by allegations of electoral fraud, violence, intimidation and related malpractices.

However, in this entire historical sojourn, Zambia seems to be a few democratic steps ahead of Zimbabwe even beginning with the attainment of independence. It was in Zambia again where proper multi-partyism began and above all, Zimbabwe still has to experience a change of government and the related consequences. Zambia`s footsteps prove to be an important guide to Zimbabwe`s democratic development.

It is therefore reasoned that the democratic progress in Zambia provides important lessons to Zimbabwe especially in terms of the conduction of acceptably free and fair elections and the civility of electoral stakeholders in canvassing for votes. It is within such a realm that the Election Resource Centre embarked on a study aimed at borrowing best practices and experiences from Zambia in order to develop an effective strategy for electoral stakeholders in Zimbabwe during the preparations for the post-conflict elections.

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