Zambia to vote as economic hardship tests government reforms
Debt restructuring, inflation and copper revenues are emerging as key issues in the vote. 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.
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Scoop News DeskZambia · Published Updated
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Copper accounts for about 70 percent of Zambia’s export earnings and more than 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). In 2017, Hichilema was arrested and detained on treason charges before his release. Since the return to multiparty elections in 1991, six presidents from three political parties have taken office, although some electoral transitions have been marked by political tension.
