a) Is Zambia on course in attaining the AU aspiration?
Explain your answer with
Credible Evidence to support your argument.
To a large extent, Zambia is on course in achieving a peaceful and secure society, as
envisioned in Aspiration 4. The country has maintained a history of political stability
since its independence in1964 and is referred to as a beacon of hope in Southern
Africa (Afrobarometer, 2021). Unlike many African nations e.g the democratic
republic of Cong, Zambia has not experienced civil war or internal armed conflict and
it continues to enjoy relatively peaceful inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations.
To begin with, one of the indicators of Zambia’s commitment to attaining aspiration
number 4 is its consistent record of peaceful democratic transitions. The presidential
election held in 2021 which were widely recognised as peaceful transparent in which
his Excellency president Hakainde Hichilema defeated Edgar Lungu, was conducted
peacefully with minimal violence and disruptions. The African Union Election
Observation Mission commended the electoral process for being transparent, inclusive
and largely peaceful (African Union, 2021). This was the third peaceful transfer of
power since 1991, reinforcing Zambia,s credentials. The European observer mission
also commended Zambia for managing a competitive election process under
challenging conditions, calling it a victory for democracy (EU EOM, 2021).
Zambia,s voter turnout of over 70% in 2021 also demonstrated high citizen
engagement in peaceful democratic process (ECZ, 2022). Furthermore the
government allowed international observers, opposition media coverage and legal
challenges through the courts. This was seen as a notable sign of maturity.
Secondly, Zambia has consistently contributed to regional and continental
peacekeeping missions as an important feature of Aspiration 4. As of 2023, Zambia
was among Africa,s most active troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions with
deployments in South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic
Republic of Congo (UN Peacekeeping, 2023). These contributions reflect Zambia,s
commitment not only to internal peace but also to continental security cooperation.
Furthermore, Zambia has also tried to improve access to justice. One example is the
creation of fast track courts for Gender Based Violence (GBV). These courts were set
up in every province to make sure GBV cases are dealt with quickly and fairly.
Reports from the Zambia Judiciary show that more cases are being completed and
victims are getting support. In 2022 alone, over 6000 GBV cases were prosecuted
successfully (Zambia Police VSU, 2023). This is important for creating a safer and
more peaceful society.
Moreover, another thing Zambia has done is expand community policing, especially
in areas where crime and violence were high. Community Policing is one of the
strategies Zambia has used to promote internal peace and public security. The main
idea is to bring the police and the community together to prevent crime instead of just
responding after a crime has happened. According to the Zambia Police service
(2022), this strategy has helped build trust between police and communities especially
in urban compounds where young people are at risk of gang involvement or political
violence. This initiative is especially relevant in high risk areas like chawama,
Kanyama and Kitwe where gang activity and youth violence had previously
undermined local peace. For instance, n 2016, Chawama,s Lumumba police post was
burned down during unrest. This triggered increased civil society engagement and
calls for more peaceful police community collaboration (SACCORD, 2016).
To add on, Zambia also plays a key role in regional peace building. For example it
hosted peace talks in the past, like the Lusaka Ceasefire agreement in 1999 to help
stop the conflict in the DRC. More recently, Zambia has been part of SADC-led
security partnerships to tackle cross border issues like arms trafficking and smuggling
(SADC, 2023). This shows that Zambia is serious about contributing to peace beyond
its borders. In 2022, Zambia joined regional intelligence sharing networks to combat
cross border smuggling and arms trafficking along its northern borders with the
Democratic republic of Congo and Tanzania (ZRA, 2022).
The National Peace building and Conflict Prevention Bill (drafted in 2023) which
aims to establish a permanent national peace commission demonstrates political will
to institutionalize peace building efforts. Once enacted, it will provide early warning
mechanisms dialogue facilitation and community level conflict resolution (Ministry of
Justice, 2023)
The country is also known for being welcoming to refugees. According to UNHCR
(2023), Zambia hosts over 100,000 refugees from countries like the DRC, Burundi
and Angola. The government works with international partners to make sure refugees
have access to basic services and in some cases, they are even given the chance to
integrate locally. This kind of humanitarian effort supports peace and stability in the
region. Zambia's policy on local integration is aligned with AU principles of solidarity
and peace.
References
African Union (2021) Preliminary Statement of the African Union election
Observation Mission to the 2021 General elections in Zambia. Available at:
[Link] (Accessed 8th June, 2025)
Afrobarometer (2021) Zambia expresses high levels of trust in military and support
for democracy. Available at: [Link] (accessed 8th June,
2025).
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)(2022). Post-Election Review Report. Lusaka:
ECZ
EU EOM (2021) European Union Election Observation Mission final report: Zambia
2021 General elections. Brussels: European Union
Ministry of Justice (2023). Draft National Peace and Conflict Prevention Bill.
Lusaka: Government of Zambia
SACCORD (2016). ‘Chawama Police Post Arson: Community Dialogue
Needed.’Lusaka: Southern Africa Centre for the constructive resolution of Disputes
SADC (2023): Peace and Security Annual Report. Gaborone: SADC Secretariat
UNHCR (2023). Zambia Country Refugee Response plan 2023. Available at:
[Link] (Accessed 18 June, 2025)
UN Peacekeeping (2023). Troop and Police Contributors: Zambia. Available at:
[Link]
(Accessed 11th June, 2025)
Zambia Police (2022). Community Policing Programme Review. Lusaka: Zambia
Police Service
Zambia Police VSU (2023). Annual Gender Based violence Statistics Report. Lusaka:
Zambia police victim Support Unit
Zambia Revenue Authority (2022). Annual Report. Lusaka:ZRA