… TIZ Calls for Urgent Reforms in Political Party Financing
By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia24 – The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) convened a crucial technical meeting on political party campaign finance and regulation on June 11th and 12th.
The meeting, which gathered representatives from political parties, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, marked a significant step towards establishing a legislative and regulatory framework for political party regulation and campaign financing in Zambia.
In her opening statement, ZCID Executive Director Doreen Njovu Kabwe expressed profound gratitude to all participants for their dedication and contributions.
“We appreciate the invaluable input from the technical teams and civil society organizations,” Kabwe stated, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to address Zambia’s regulatory gaps.
The technical meeting achieved considerable progress in analyzing the current regulatory landscape and building consensus among political parties.
A consolidated draft document was presented for plenary and validation, laying the groundwork for future legislative proposals.
Kabwe highlighted the absence of specific legislation governing political party financing and management in Zambia.
In response, Transparency International (TI) and ZCID are mobilizing political parties and civil society organizations to adopt global and regional best practices in political party and campaign finance regulation.
The ultimate goal is to draft a model political party bill for submission to the Ministry of Justice.
“Political parties are the essence and lifeblood of any multi-party democratic system,” Kabwe asserted.
She underscored the importance of developing political parties rooted in democratic values and inclusive participation, as enshrined in Article 60 of the Zambian Constitution.
Despite Zambia’s notable progress in democratic governance since 1991, challenges persist, including the low participation of women and youth in political processes.
Kabwe called for a legal framework to set minimum standards for political party operations, emphasizing the need for funding transparency and the protection of constitutional freedoms.
The lack of proper funding and investment in political parties often leads to corrupt practices, undermining transparency and development.
Kabwe urged for honest discussions to address these issues and stressed the importance of legislation that promotes integrity, proper party regulation, and the strengthening of democracy.
The plenary session aimed to gather comprehensive inputs from all stakeholders to finalize the consolidated draft document.
Kabwe acknowledged the support of the United Nations Development Programme and the National Democratic Institute, as well as contributions from academia, faith-based organizations, and consultants.
The ZCID continues to advocate for a robust legal framework to enhance democratic governance and ensure genuine political participation in Zambia.
Speaking at the same function, Raymond Mutale, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) acting Executive Director, called for comprehensive legislative reforms to regulate political party financing in the country.
Mutale, during a discussion on the pressing issue of political party financing, which has gained significant attention globally, emphasized the vital role political parties play in a democracy, including articulating citizens’ interests, developing policy proposals, selecting candidates, and conducting electoral campaigns.
However, he highlighted a significant gap in Zambia’s democratic framework: the absence of a legal structure governing political party financing.
“At the moment, Zambia does not have a legal framework for party financing,” Mutale stated.
“This lack of regulation allows political parties to source funds from questionable origins, which contradicts the expectations of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.”
Zambia, a signatory to this convention, is required to ensure transparency in political party financing and the use of legitimate funds, including mandatory financial reporting.
The current situation in Zambia allows political parties to seek funding from any source without the obligation to disclose these sources or submit audited financial reports, except during registration.
This unregulated flow of funds significantly influences the electoral process, despite prohibitions outlined in the Electoral Process Act No. 36 of 2016 against offering money or gifts to voters.
Efforts to regulate political party financing in Zambia date back to 2001, when Parliament approved the Political Party Financing Bill.
However, then-President Patrick Levy Mwanawasa did not assent to the bill, citing financial constraints.
Advocates for legislating party financing argue that it would bring order to the political landscape and reduce corruption by minimizing political capture by wealthy individuals and corporations.
In response to these challenges, TIZ has actively engaged political parties over the past three to four years to discuss and identify ways to regulate and monitor party financing.
TIZ’s proposed reforms aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and integrity within the political arena. Key recommendations include:
- Periodic disclosure and reporting of financial contributions to political parties, including post-election reports.
- Regulation of financial contributions during campaigns and before elections.
- Publication of periodic and annual financial reports by political parties.
- Disclosure of non-cash contributions, such as donations of goods and services, based on their economic value.
- Setting limits on contributions from individuals, corporations, and organizations.
- Establishing a special election campaign fund to support eligible political parties.
- Appointment of a financial manager responsible for compliance with financing regulations.
- Submission of audited financial reports and related records by political parties.
- Review of political parties’ financial records by the Electoral Commission or other regulatory authorities.
- Forensic examination of financial reports to identify and address internal inconsistencies or other evidence of irregularities.
Mutale concluded by urging the government to enact comprehensive legislation to regulate political party and campaign financing, ensuring a transparent and accountable system that prevents the undue influence of money in politics.
Transparency International Zambia’s call for reform underscores the urgent need for legislative action to safeguard the integrity of Zambia’s political system and reinforce the commitment of politicians to their constituents.