Through our African Citizens Watch (ACW) initiative, which is an online platform, we track the performance and effectiveness of African governments through their conversion of electoral promises listed in their electoral manifesto into policy actions. We track in 5 countries – Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Zambia, to keep the tracker updated and relevant, we have partnered with Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia (AAAZ), an organisation that is dedicated to promoting accountability and transparency in governance. AAAZ promotes the Zambia Citizens Watch tracker, which is part of the broader work done through the ACW initiative. The tracker looks at the 248 promises made by the United Party for National Development (UPND) government in their 2021-2026 Manifesto.
A couple of members of our team travelled to Zambia from the 18th to 19th of July 2025, to support AAZ in presenting on the Zambia Citizens Watch tracker, which monitors the implementation of manifesto promises by the government of Zambia. It was one of our crucial presentations in the accountability movement. Our Zambia Country Researcher, Mataa Mulife, and Programs Manager, Eddah Jowah, were featured on Hot FM’s Hot Breakfast Show on the 18th of July, where they discussed the Citizens Watch’s progress tracking work in Zambia. They shared our scorecard analysis of the UPND government’s 248 promises:
- 6 promises have been fully implemented.
- 166 are in progress- These show the beginnings of action, but more is required for full delivery.
- 2 promises have been broken- These are efforts that contradict the initial promises.
- 74 promises have not commenced.
What stood out most in this discussion was our central question:
Beyond elections, what then happens?
Our work challenges the notion that democracy ends at the ballot box. We advocate for systematic, citizen-led tracking of government actions that anchor governance in accountability. Office holders must be answerable not just at election time but throughout their term, promise by promise.
Civil Society Engagements
Our second day began with a dynamic engagement involving 12 civil society organisations (CSOs) in Zambia working in the areas of transparency, accountability, and advocacy. Each participant introduced themselves by naming a government promise they were monitoring. Issues like debt reduction, constitutional reforms, job creation, and anti-corruption efforts were top of mind.
- The Executive Director of AAAZ opened the session with warm remarks, highlighting the relevance of our work and the support provided by the SIVIO Institute.
- Eddah Jowah followed with a powerful overview on CSO collaboration, stressing the role of citizens in shaping governance culture. Her message was clear: Accountability begins with the people.
- We also heard from Matron Muchena, who reiterated the origin and expansion of the African Citizens Watch. There was a strong, collective commitment from the CSOs present to amplify the Zambia Citizens Watch by sharing reports, data, and tracking tools with broader audiences.
The University talk at the University of Zambia, which was the last engagement on the 19th of July, brought excitement from students who appreciated the work that is being done by the tracker and revealed that they would be using the data from the platform for their academic purposes. The presentation focused on explaining the data housed at the Zambia Citizens Watch and how that could be used by students to make informed decisions about governance in their country.
This trip reinforced what we have always believed: accountability is participatory. The Citizens Watch is not just a tool, it’s a mechanism for civic engagement, a way to turn promises into tangible results, and a reminder that democracy is lived every day.