President Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia has registered significant achievements with regard to enhancing the country's democratic rule after the first summit for democracy held in December 2021 in the United States of America.
Speaking when he officiated at the opening of the Second Summit for Democracy in Lusaka today being co-hosted by Zambia, President Hichilema outlined some of the achievements as the abolishing of the death penalty, repealing of the Defamation of the President Law and refining of the Public Order Act the country has embarked on.
Meanwhile, the Head of State says fair and transparent elections are the cornerstone of democratic governance as it ensures credibility in the elections and subsequently legitimacy of any government.
The President says to achieve this, there is a need for independent and credible electoral management bodies.
And United States of America Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says democracy is the best tool for finding solutions to challenges affecting different countries and has also emphasized the importance of education in democratic counties as it plants the seed of democratic participation processes.
Zambia is co-hosting the Second Summit for Democracy under the theme: Free, fair, and transparent elections in Africa and has drawn delegates from several countries.
PHOENIX NEWS