The report State of Democracy in Zambia was launched on 7 December 2011 in Lusaka, as a result of an assessment project that started on 20 July 2010, carried out by the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Zambia (UNZA).

The assessment process was based on International IDEA's State of Democracy (SoD) methodology and focused on creating a platform for engaging with a broad spectrum of citizens across the country. FODEP and UNZA facilitated this process where ordinary Zambians across five provinces and ten districts were able to share their experiences, views and suggestions on how to strengthen what is working in Zambia's democracy and also improve those areas where challenges persist.

At the launch, FODEP representative Martin Mbewe stated "during our assessment, we looked at various aspects of democracy in Zambia and we appeal to the Government to look into these recommendations."

Since September, political powers in Zambia had peacefully transitioned to a new ruling party, the Patriotic Front (PF) with new President Michael Sata, and the new Government was represented at the launch by the Minister of Information, Tourism and Broadcasting, Given Lubinda.

"The report comes at a very good time, with the new leadership in the country. We will read the report with keen interest because we have a desire to provide good governance to the people who gave us this opportunity to superintend over the affairs of the nation" said Lubinda.

Meanwhile, International IDEA's Regional Director of Africa, Ambassador Moorad Mustaq, noted "International IDEA hopes this report does not simply become a source of academic and intellectual discourse that only benefits researchers, but that it will be embraced as an instrument that creates an opportunity to respond to the aspirations of the Zambian people."

The launch event was held at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in central Lusaka and it was attended by some 100 participants from civil society, the Government, the Zambia Police Service, academics, media, assessment teams from several different countries, members of the diplomatic corps including IDEA Member States, and other members of the international community.

http://www.idea.int/sod/state-democracy-zambia-report-launched-lusaka.html