Check out the September 2021 episode of Africa Brief, our monthly audio discussion about some of the key issues impacting Africa’s free expression landscape.
In this episode, IFEX’s Regional Editor Reyhana Masters is joined by MISA Zambia Programmes Manager Jane Chirwa to discuss the recent Zambian Elections and their implications for Freedom of Expression in both Zambia and the wider region.
There were some connectivity issues that affected audio quality, so we’re sharing a lightly edited transcript of some of the key points below.
Don’t miss an episode by subscribing to Africa Brief on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn.
—-
Reyhana Masters: Hello, and a very warm welcome to this special edition of Africa Brief from IFEX, the global network that promotes and defends freedom of expression and information. My name is Reyhana Masters, IFEX’s Africa’s Regional Editor.
Today, I’m delighted to welcome a very special guest, Jane Chirwa, the Program Manager at the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Zambia chapter. She’ll be joining us to discuss the recent elections in Zambia and the implications for freedom of expression in both Zambia and the wider region. Welcome Jane.
Jane Chirwa: It’s a pleasure to speak to you.
Reyhana Masters: So let’s start with a little bit of context for our listeners. In mid-August’s election, Hakainde Hichilema became Zambia’s seventh president in a landslide win against incumbent president Edgar Lungu. We all know that elections in Zambia are hotly contested, and this year’s election was marked by violence as well as widespread internet shutdowns on election day.
Jane – regional and international focus has been on the lead up to election day and the results thereafter. But as we know, that victory came against the backdrop of many challenges. Could you give us an insight into the media and political landscape in recent years and in the run-up to August?
Jane Chirwa: Thank you very much Reyhana. First of all, when you want to look at the election environment in Zambia, it is the Electoral Processes Act of 2016 that guides us in terms of election coverage, how the contestants are going to participate in the election, the political parties, the announcement of the results, and the time for the campaign period…
In terms of the environment in which we operate, there are quite a number of laws that are still oppressive, such as the penal code, where there are laws against defamation of the president, regardless of the fact that he’s running again for the presidency.
[…]
Additionally we saw the government enact the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Act of 2021, which many people thought was supposed to gag the party that is now in power, which is the United Party for National Development.
There are also media houses across the country that have widespread coverage across the country that are controlled by the state. Fewer people from the opposition have access to that, and so they are not covered, and if they are covered, they’re covered in a negative light.
So because of that, they were forced to embrace the online space. So already you see that the environment for the political parties through the media was not so conducive.
[…]
Reyhana Masters: So Jane, you seem to be painting a picture of a very different election. And that’s the way that many people saw it. So as a Zambian, a woman and freedom of expression advocate, would you agree first that it was different? And if so, tell us why it was so distinct.
Jane Chirwa: It was very distinctive. We saw that because of COVID-19, there was a limitation on the holding of rallies. There was an agreement actually that the different political parties should not hold rallies. And therefore they could only use media and conduct mobile advertising, so they could drive around with their branded cars or use public service vehicles and just pass through the compounds and different areas and use the online space. It was really different in that sense.
We also had this young vote that was so different in thinking, because before we had people who were using information disorder, such as hate speech, condemning a certain tribe and using that kind of tribal politics as a way of winning the votes. But the younger generation, fortunately in Zambia, are not tribalistic, because most of them have parents that come from different regions, who come from different tribes, so the language of tribalism was something they would not buy anymore. They want to vote for someone who is able to assist them.
[…]
Reyhana Masters: As you mentioned, there were many things that drove people to go and vote – it’s about the economy, it’s about very few employment prospects, and many other issues. But let’s talk about the experience on election day itself – what was the mood like when Zambians went to vote? You were there, give us a feel for that?
Jane Chirwa: Well, it was amazing, Reyhana! If you saw the level of turnout, and the awareness by the citizens, that my vote counts. My vote is my voice. My vote is the ability to put someone who will be there to present my views. I am employing someone. That’s what people are saying, and that’s the level of awakening – you can liken it to the time that Zambia returned in 1991 when we reverted back to multiparty politics.
There were long queues, some people would walk into a polling station at 5am and at some places they would not be able to vote until 8pm. People were eating on the queue, they were cooking on the queue, they brought their food and they didn’t care until they voted. Some even voted the next day in the morning around 4am or 5am, because they didn’t have a chance to vote on election day itself. The voter turnout was unlike anything we’ve seen in previous years.
[…]
Reyhana Masters: Jane, how did this election compare with previous elections when it comes to violations against the press?
Jane Chirwa: In 2016 there were more violations compared to 2021. In 2016, three media houses were closed, they couldn’t broadcast for a period of time… and two journalists were brutally beaten up by supporters of the Patriotic Front.
In 2021, some grave incidents took place, but no media house was closed. There was an incident where a journalist was beaten up in the Northwestern province of Zambia and his equipment was broken. We also had an incident where a radio station was petrol bombed in Chiwenge District, a rural district.
It was also the first time where we experienced an internet shutdown during elections — starting on the 12th and into the 13th.
Reyhana Masters: What would you say was the impact of this internet disruption?
Jane Chirwa: It had quite a big impact on the ability of the population to communicate. In Zambia, because of the ban on physical rallies taking place because of the COVID-19 situation… the internet was the way that people were communicating.
So the shutdown of the internet had a great impact on the citizens’ ability to communicate with one another in the different parts of the country… and their ability to be able to access the results in a timely manner.
It also affected journalists’ ability to send information to the editors stationed at the media house. So it disrupted the communications greatly.
[…]
Reyhana Masters: Looking ahead, President-elect Hichilema has already promised democratic reform and an improved media environment. What do you make of these promises? What do you think needs to be done to gain and also keep the trust of Zambians?
Jane Chirwa: At the time of advocating for the IBA to be enacted, there were four or five, six stations, but right now we are talking about over 140 radio stations operating across the country. So that is increasing access to information.
Hichilema made several pronouncements in his victory speech, and as he opened Parliament today, he mentioned the need for a self-regulatory framework to promote freedom of expression. They do believe that the media is the place where they will hear what the citizens are saying, and respond to them.
Reyhana Masters: This is the last question before we wrap up, but it’s an important one. I know that the Zambian elections were followed very closely by fellow Africans. Why do you think this was the case?
Jane Chirwa: Well, first of all, you talk about Zambia being one of the peaceful countries, and we have hosted quite a number of refugees, and it would have been something to speak about if Zambia went into issues to do with electoral violence… So yes, we compete, we have different ideas, but at the core of it all we know who we are, that we are one people. We will employ people during elections. They will do their work. If we don’t agree with their delivery, we can vote for other people. And that is a message we were passing around as we were doing our work to ensure that there was peace in the country.
Reyhana Masters: Jane, it’s been a very interesting conversation and especially getting it from you first-hand. So very warm thanks to you for taking the time to speak with us today. You’ve given us a lot of food for thought and listeners can stay in touch with developments in Zambia by following Misa Zambia on Twitter at @MisaZambia1.