Zambian Opposition Issues Warning to Donor Community over Sata Government

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• Publié par: k-social-media-consulting-llc
• Nombre de lectures: 26
• Langue: English

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Zambian Opposition Issues Warning to Donor

Community over Sata Government

PR Newswire

LONDON, June 6, 2012

LONDON

,

June 6, 2012

/PRNewswire/ -- Today leaders of the main opposition

parties of

Zambia

signed an open letter to the international donor community

raising concerns over what they describe as alarming conduct by the new

government of President Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front party.

The 10-page letter, which is signed by Nevers Mumba of the Movement for

Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for

National Development (UPND), Charles Milupi of the Alliance for Democracy

and Development (ADD), Sakwiba Sikota of the United Liberal Party (ULB),

Edwin Sakala of the Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM), and Robert

Amsterdam, international counsel to former President Rupiah Banda and son

Henry Banda, argues that the Patriotic Front's economic mismanagement has

discredited many institutions of government which may be responsible for

administering foreign aid resources.

"

Zambia

is currently experiencing a crisis of confidence in the quality of its

governance, raising credible and legitimate doubts that the current group of

individuals in the seats of power can be trusted to issue debt, transparently

manage financial resources, or conduct themselves within the boundaries of

the constitution," the text of the letter reads. "Considering the nepotism

exercised within the Ministry of Finance and the unlawful handling of major

transactions (…), it is no longer possible to regard the Patriotic Front

administration as operating with constitutional regularity framed by observation

of the law."

The open letter to the donor community underscores a number of questions

surrounding the Patriotic Front's management of the economy – including the

appointment of members of the president's family to the Ministry of Finance

and several no-bid contracts allegedly awarded to companies owned by

members of government. The letter also examines the seizure of a bank

formerly belonging to an alleged financial supporter of the president, while also

raising alarm over the confrontation between the administration and the

judiciary. The authors of the letter state that President Sata has limited

freedom of expression by filing numerous defamation lawsuits seeking more

than

$1 million

in damages from opponents, while at least one citizen has been

jailed for criticizing the president.

While seeking to raise awareness of these trends, the signatories of the open

letter urge international donors to carefully monitor execution of programs and

to work directly with intended beneficiaries to ensure against diversion of

resources by the state. The full text of the open letter can be read at

http://zambiandemocracy.wordpress.com.