Among foreign diplomats flocking to Los Angeles this week eager to dip their toes in the tingling democracy pool of the Democratic National Convention is a hopeful and idealistic delegation from Zambia, led by Information Minister Newstead L. Zimba. The United States, after all, is the strongest democracy in the world, and the way speeches are articulated, how the people react and how the media handle themselves are all part of the mix, she continued. Sikaneta, a former diplomat, is the only woman in the delegation and its most outspoken member. Zambia held multiparty elections in 1996 that were free and fair, she said. We wanted to come and explain that with this record, we want to improve.
Democracy is the same concept everywhere.
Zambia, small though it may be, Zambia, poor though it may be compared to the United States . . . The minister said that tightening the bond of friendship with the United States is vital since Washington is the seat of major international financial institutions concerned with governance and devising strategies for the poor. We are facing some difficulties in ensuring higher turnout at the polls. Our infrastructure is not so good. We need vehicles to reach certain rural areas and we are looking for adequate computers.