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Edgar Lungu

Lovemore Ranga Mataire Senior Writer

Zambians have rejected neo-liberal policies in favour of nationalistic populism meant to address class disparities.

Majority Zambians have rejected the neo-liberal economic policies advanced by opposition challenger Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) in favour of the pro-poor remedies proffered by president-elect Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF).

The electorate’s preference was revealed in a tightly contested presidential election in which President Lungu polled 1 860 877 votes while Hichilema received 1 760 347 votes. Lungu’s victory effectively prevented a runoff predicted in the run-up to the elections by most pundits.

Six other presidential aspirants were miles behind the two, in an election where about 4 million people voted in a population of 14 million people. According to the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Zambia Esau Chulu, incumbent Lungu secured 50.3 percent of the vote against 47.7 percent of his main rival Hichilema, enough to win the vote outright and avoid a run-off. There were 6 710 455 registered voters.

As has become the norm in most African elections, European Union election observers poured cold water of Lungu’s victory raising questions over the vote’s transparency after being denied access to the verification centre where results were being received and cross-checked. Other local observers certified the elections as free and fair despite earlier skirmishes that characterised the campaign period.

Bidding anything, Lungu has been given a mandate to pursue his party’s policies initiated by the late Michael Sata, who died in office in 2014.

The victory by Lungu essentially gives him the mandate to pursue his pro-poor policies as enshrined in the PF’s election manifesto.

The preamble to the PF’s manifesto clearly stated that if elected the party would ensure that it continues with the developmental projects started in 2011, when the late Sata was elected into office. It is some of these projects with clear leftist inclinations that seem to have been given a nod by the Zambian electorate. His message of equitable wealth distribution and diversification of the economy seems to have resonated well with the electorate.

In the typical PF’s nationalistic and pan-African fashion, the party proposed to embark on making Zambia a Medical Hub so efficient that there would not be any need for referring patients abroad. The idea is anchored on making selected health facilities into Centres of Excellence where Zambians can access specialised treatment.

On education, PF proposed that early education was a major priority that must be resourced with necessary skills, books, teachers, furniture and computers. Learning institutions are expected to be fitted with state of the art equipment and technology.

On agriculture PF had proposed in its manifesto to diversity and expand the livestock sector to ensure food security and make Zambia the bread basket in the region.

Its pro-poor policies are largely reflected in the party’s proposal to empower councils countrywide to build low-cost houses to improve the living standards of people and upgrade townships including completion of the road projects initiated during Lungu’s reign.

On the other hand, while on paper Hichilema’s policies as enshrined in his party’s manifesto sounded dynamic and progressive, majority voters were suspicious of his pro-business policies that they viewed as superficial in addressing the glaring disparities between the haves and the have-nots.

In summary, Hichilema’s 10-point plan included incentivising companies to create jobs and reduce importation of non-essential commodities that can be manufactured locally. The party also sought to tap into youth and women by promising to provide income generating projects and affirmative action in the awarding of government tenders.

Hichilema’s business bias is reflected in his advocacy for reducing heavy regulation, high cost of transport and trade, access to finance and power supply. His neo-liberal tendencies lingering on the side of Bretton Woods institutions clearly came to the fore during the campaigns when he spoke about good governance, foreign investment and free market reforms.

However, it seemed his message failed to gain enough numbers to lend him the highest post in the land. Sadly, the Zambian presidency has eluded him for the fifth time now since turning into an opposition politician.

Lungu whose first international call was on Zimbabwe, where he described President Mugabe as an African elder statesman and an icon, has been given right to continue of his path of economic diversification.

What had blighted Lungu’s chances were the current economic challenges accentuated by the global slump of copper, the country’s main export and El Nino-induced weather conditions that have resulted in drought — the worst in decades.

It seems Lungu’s minority ethnic origins also worked in his favour as he was not seen as a tribalist and a compromise figure able to unite the various ethnic groups in Zambia.

In short, Zambians have rejected neo-liberal policies in favour of nationalistic populism meant to address class disparities.