Public funding of political parties welcomed

US based Zambian academician Professor Henry Kyambalesa says while public funding of political parties may not make economic sense, it is essential in weaning them from the influence of a few members who may have the means to fund their operations.

Professor Kyambalesa says this will lead to greater intra-party democracy.

He states that since political parties have an express moral obligation to serve the interests of Zambia and all its citizens, they need to be minimally supported through the public treasury to prevent them from falling prey to financiers with personal, corporate, partisan, and/or shady external interests.

Professor Kyambalesa adds that such funding can reduce the enormous political advantage which the ruling political party enjoys over opposition parties, particularly during political campaigns when the Republican president and vice president use public resources at will to travel around the country for the purpose of canvassing for votes.

He says without the envisaged public funding of political parties, particularly for political parties which are represented in Parliament, the ruling party will continue to dominate political activity in parliamentary and local government elections.

Professor Kyambalesa adds that the implicit of the recommendations to fund political parties is their ultimate potential to promote intra-party democracy, democratic ideals in general, harmonious inter-party relations, national unity, patriotism, fair play, professionalism, and the evolvement of a viable multi-party system.