As the nation goes to the polls, US senators urge peaceful and fair elections in Zambia.
As Zambia gears up for its crucial elections on August 13th, a group of U.S. Senators has raised concerns over the political climate within the country.
In a joint statement released today from Washington, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) expressed their commitment to a peaceful, fair democratic process, highlighting the importance of transparent elections to preserve the longstanding partnership between the United States and Zambia.
The senators acknowledged the robust collaboration between the two nations over the past twenty years, citing successes in peacekeeping, health initiatives such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and substantial democracy-building measures aimed at enhancing global health, stability, and social mobility. However, they cautioned that this partnership has faced challenges, especially in light of the previous U.S. administration’s attempts to tie critical health aid to access to minerals through a controversial Global Health Memorandum of Understanding.
“We are especially concerned by the Zambian ruling party’s attempts to undermine the country’s electoral environment ahead of its August 13th elections,” the senators stated.
