Democracy at Work

Democracy at Work

This last week, Benedict and I felt that we were watching history
being made and the blessing of democracy lived out. Zambia is the
only African nation that has had peaceful transition of power, not
once but twice in its short history. The second time was just this
week. More clearly than we have seen before, even in the US, people
were able to speak loudly by marking a ballot.

Many of you know that there were presidential elections here in Zambia
on Tuesday. For the last 20 years the MMD party has been in power,
both with the presidency and the parliament. Presidents are elected
for 5 years, so 5 years ago there was a presidential election and then
another one 3 years ago when the President died. (They don't
automatically move the vice-president to the president, but have
another election to finish the term.) Three years ago there were
accusations of fraud by the MMD to maintain control of the presidency.
The major opponent then was Michael Sata of the PF party.

Once again this year Sata was running. There were 10 candidates in
all from various parties, but the two main ones were Sata and Rupiah
Banda from the MMD and the serving president. Due to the possibility
of fraud, Sata and the other parties did much to be present at all the
polling places, looking for extra ballots, following vehicles carrying
the marked ballots to the capitol, etc.

Voting took place on Tuesday. The Electoral Commission had said that
they would announce the results in 48 hours. It is not computerized
here. As the time went on, and no announcement was made, there was
unrest in several cities with burning and some looting. With the
overwhelming popular support that Sata had, people still felt that the
MMD would somehow manipulate to keep Banda as president.

From what we could see, there was great support for Sata among the
people. We assumed that if the MMD tried to fraudulently steal the
election from Banda that the country would erupt. However, finally at
12:30 a.m. Friday morning, Sata was announced the winner. There was
jubilation everywhere. One of our teachers, living here in the
Village, got calls all night from her relatives in Lusaka reporting on
the dancing and celebrating in the streets. People said that there
had not been anything like this since independence over 40 years ago.

Due to the possibility that current government officials could steal
and do corrupt things, the swearing in of the new president takes
place immediately. So at 2:30 on Friday afternoon, with hundreds of
thousands outside the Supreme Court, Sata was sworn in. Everyone was
amazed that Sata had invited the first president, Kenneth Kauda, as
well as Banda to walk in with him to be sworn in. It was a great
statement of the unity of this country.

Sata campaigned on two major issues: corruption in the government, and
foreign companies and investors in Zambia who disregard the people of
Zambia by mistreating workers, bringing in foreign labor instead of
hiring Zambians, and are never prosecuted for crimes they commit.
(Last year at a Chinese owned mining company, 13 workers were shot by
two Chinese managers and there were no arrests.) These two issues
were important to the people here and by voting they made a big
statement to the Zambian government, Africa, and the world. We cannot
argue with his stands on these issues.

Although there is some concern about what will transpire under Sata,
during his first few days in office he has demonstrated a gracious
spirit. There is hope that things will change, corruption will be
rooted out, and that China and other countries who would take
advantage of the Zambian people will be held accountable for their
actions and that their investment here would truly help the people of
this country.

Now we ask your prayers
* for the President to select good leaders for his cabinet
* for strength and wisdom to move forward on his promises
* that he will be moderate, toning down his sometimes harsh rhetoric
* that he will listen to God for direction and wisdom.