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# Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona at the Summit for Democracy in Zambia (As Prepared for Delivery)

# Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona at the Summit for Democracy in Zambia (As Prepared for Delivery)

March 30, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

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Your Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema, Minister of Foreign Affairs Stanley Kakubo, Minister of Justice Mulambo Haimbe, Heads of Delegations from across the continent, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, all protocols observed ...

It’s an honor to represent the  United States here at the Africa-regional event of the second Summit for  Democracy.  

My heartfelt thanks to the  government of the Republic of Zambia for graciously hosting us here today – and  warmly welcoming me to this beautiful and diverse country.

We all come together from different  countries.  We represent different  backgrounds, different perspectives, different stories.  

But what unites all of us is this:  the firm conviction that *democracy  delivers*.

*Democracy delivers* inclusive economic growth.   But it also delivers much more than the material benefits.  

*Democracy delivers* hope for change – the possibility that our societies could always get better,  and our futures could always get brighter.  

And it delivers the understanding  that mistakes can always be corrected – and conflicts can be resolved without  violence. 

*Democracy delivers* resilience – values that endure and institutions that last -- even as we evolve  and improve.  A system that is greater  than individuals, moments, or whims.

*Democracy delivers* accountability – the means for people to exercise fully their rights and  freedoms, and the institutions to make sure governments respond to the people  they represent.

And *democracy delivers* choices.  It gives more people more  options – for their lives, for their livelihoods, for their futures.

Accountable, responsive democratic  governance is the best tool we have to deliver on the full potential of our  people – and the full promise of our nations. 

Democracies aren’t afraid to  question themselves or welcome new ideas, grounded in their firm belief that  everyone’s voice matters.

This freedom and fearlessness are  why democracies are stronger and better able to find creative solutions to the  challenges we face.

Nowhere  is that more clear than in democracies across the African continent.  The hard work to ensure democracy delivers is represented  by all of you, sitting right here, right now.

We see it in Mozambique, where half  the ministers are women, the Parliament regularly brings the cabinet in for  tough questions, and civil society plays a critical role in keeping the  government accountable. 

We see it in The Gambia, which has  instituted a “zero tolerance” policy on official corruption and recently held free  and fair legislative and presidential elections.

We see it in Niger, where President  Bazoum is the first democratically elected president to take over from another  in the country’s history.  

Today, I have the honor of speaking  from one of the bright spots.  Zambia... this  is your moment.

Zambia’s reform agenda today  presents a model of democratic and economic renewal for all of us.  

And Zambia’s young people are  raising the bar for the country’s future.  

Here in Zambia, young people stood  in long lines, waiting to cast their vote – because they were determined to  change the future of their country and the course of their lives.

Here in Zambia, young people ran to  become local elected officials or members of parliament themselves – with some  now serving in roles from Mayor to District Chairperson.

And here in Zambia, we saw that bear  fruit in the country’s historic third peaceful transition of power – where Zambia  has embraced the democratic reforms pledged by President Hichilema.

What  you’ve accomplished here in Zambia is an inspiration to the world. As I’ve  heard people say here: *Zambia  Kuchalo!*

Let me also say this: the story of  democracy is not new to the continent.   And it is not just one of votes counted and leaders elected. 

It’s the story of potential  unleashed. Dreams realized. Young people leading.

The UN estimates that by 2050, half  of the African continent’s population will be under 25.

That means the African continent could  well be on the doorstep of a democratic renaissance – driven by a powerful  youth dividend and leaders like you, at all levels.

I have high hopes for our shared  future – and high aspirations for our continued partnership where we learn from  one another and support one another.

We know, too, that the work of  sustaining and improving our democracies is never done.  

But that potential for change, led  by the people, is part of what makes democracy so powerful.  

Like any other democracy, we in the  United States have faced setbacks.   Disappointments.  Threats to our  elections and democratic institutions – from inside and outside our borders.

236 years after our Constitution was  signed, the work of protecting and sustaining our democracy continues.

President Hichilema, you described  the same idea beautifully when you wrote: “Like a fruit tree, democracy needs  constant attention. If you come to it once every five years and expect a  bountiful harvest, you will be disappointed.”

So, I hope you won’t mind if I extend the fruit tree  comparison today to describe the work that lies ahead.

**Like growing a fruit tree, you first have to plant the seeds of democracy.**

In a democracy, free, fair, and  transparent elections – the theme of this event – reflect a key moment when the  seeds germinate.  

Elections are where people can make  their voices heard.  

We’re doing important work to  nurture those seeds of democracy – including through some important initiatives  that came out of the first Summit for Democracy, like the Global Network for  Securing Electoral Integrity, the Defending Democratic Elections Fund, and the  Democracy Cohort on Election Integrity.

But let’s also be clear: too often people  confuse elections as the be all, end all of democracy.  

Planting the seeds in the context of  democracy means encouraging people to participate in the democratic process for  the first time – *and beyond.*

That’s why education is so fundamental.  And, it is why President Biden dispatched me,  America’s “Education Minister” as his representative here today. 

When a child learns to read and uses  that knowledge to learn about issues that will matter for their future, *education plants the seeds* of civic  engagement.

When a student learns about the  history of their nation and how their government functions, *education plants the seeds* of democratic  participation.

When a young person learns in class  about pathways they can take in their career and their lives, *education plants the seeds* of hope.

So I want to applaud Presidents  Bazoum, Hichilema, and many others for investing in education.

I also want to be clear about  something: when I talk about the importance of education, I talk about it with  humility, recognizing fully the challenges of our own education system.  

In the United States, I often call  attention to a broken status quo that has failed students.

I talk about teacher shortages.  

I talk about making education more  affordable and accessible.  

I talk about the need for more  pathways to careers.  

And I talk about the need for civics  education at a time when young people, especially, are growing up in an  environment of increasing misinformation and targeting by bad-faith actors. 

I’m sure some – maybe all – of the  issues I mentioned resonate with you in your own countries.  

If we are going to fulfill the  promise of education to plant the seeds of stronger democracy, we are going to  have to learn from one another – from our successes as well as our mistakes.  *We are  in this together.*

That’s a big reason why I’m so proud  of the educational exchanges we in the United States have with young people  from all over the world, including students from across the African continent.  

These exchanges, whether it be the Young African Leaders  Initiative, Fulbright, or others, build the  people-to-people exposure and ties which make all of our democracies  stronger.

**Once we plant the seeds, we need to nurture the tree so it  develops a strong and resilient trunk that can help the tree stand tall.**

I think of the baobab trees you can  find here in Zambia and in other countries across the continent.  The baobab tree is known for being able to  store huge amounts of water in its trunk.   So, even when the times are dry, the tree is still able to produce  beautiful fruits.

Just like the trunk of the baobab  tree, a resilient democracy has a built-in capacity to deliver, even in  difficult times.  

It relies on *systems, not superheroes*.  It  has strong institutions that are designed to deliver for people.  It has space for effective civil society  organizations like the ones many of you here represent today – like Nigeria’s *Yiaga Africa,*which promotes democratic governance, human rights and civic  engagement.

And here, too, education also plays  a critical role.  

When we invest in our education  systems, we invest in our people.  We build  a more resilient future.

The same goes for our health systems  ... our agricultural systems ... our systems for managing free and fair  elections ... and more.  

And, even once they are strong, we  cannot take our systems and institutions for granted – as we have seen all around  the world in recent years.  We need to cultivate  and nurture them, and always build our democracy’s capacity for the  future.  

*We need to make the trunk of the  tree stronger.*

**So, after we’ve planted the seeds, and nurtured it into a  strong tree, then we can reap the harvest – the fruits of democracy.**

That has never been more  important.  All around the world today,  democracies are facing serious challenges.   Political polarization.  Misinformation.  Corruption.  Distrust of institutions.  Deepening inequality.

And that’s all before factoring in  the threats from hostile actors and authoritarian leaders outside our borders. 

That’s why I stress the need for  accountable and responsive governance.  

Here’s what that looks like:

Civil society contributing to the  solutions.  Opposition political parties  presenting alternate perspectives.  Transparency  in public services.  A responsible and  vibrant media.

When we get all of that right, we  get democracies that deliver. 

As we focus today’s discussions on  free, fair, and transparent elections, let us also nurture the entire ecosystem  and lifecycle that fosters the fruit tree.  

The work of democracy neither  starts, nor stops at the ballot box.  It  requires nurturing the seeds of democracy...growing its capacity for the  long term ... and finally delivering the fruits.

All of us here today have a stake in  making sure democracy delivers in our countries.  

I said it before and I’ll say it  again: we are all in this together: as friends and partners, brothers and  sisters.  Let us support one another on  this journey.

I’m reminded of the founding father  of an independent Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.  

He  popularized a phrase that might resonate with all of us who have come together  today: *Tiyende Pamodzi*.

It translates as: *we roll together*.

Today, as our democracies face down  challenges from inside our borders and threats from outside, *we roll together*.

As our democracies strive to live up  to our highest ideals, sometimes succeeding, sometimes falling short, *we roll together*.

As our democracies work to deliver  for our people, now and for years to come, *we  roll together*.

If we can come together as equals... if we can work in partnership ... if we can learn from one another and  support one another ... I know that the future of our democracies will be  bright.  

So *let’s roll together*.  Thank  you.
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