Donors withhold election money

Donors have withheld assistance to the Electoral Commission in Zambia (ECZ), meant to facilitate the country's general elections later in the year, news reports said on Wednesday. Reports said that this followed the Zambian government's refusal to accept some conditions, including adherence to the constitutional limitation on the presidential term of office.

Some members of the ruling Movement for Multiparty democracy have been campaigning for a constitutional amendment to allow President Frederick Chiluba to stand for a third term. ECZ chairman Judge Bobby Bwalya was quoted as saying that most of the conditions set by donors before funds could be released had been rejected by the government.

According to Bwalya, the donors also wanted government to commit itself to expanding the ECZ by increasing the current membership of five commissioners to include members of political parties. Bwalya said it would be difficult to reach a consensus on a number of issues if politicians are allowed to sit on the commission.

The donors have also reportedly demanded "a level playing field" for political parties in funding and equal access to the public media, especially the state-owned radio and television. Bwalya was also quoted as saying that political parties should not to boycott this year's elections even where they have some grievances, warning that they risked losing out as they would be digging their own "political grave."