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Key Takeaways: Cost of Politics
1
In 2021 the average campaign cost was 568,000 ZMW (31,300 USD), with the average cost for candidates winning more than 20% of the vote higher at 990,000 ZMW (54,500 USD).
2
There are significant differences in campaign spending between parties. Candidates from the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development on average spent 165% more on their parliamentary campaigns than those not belonging to these two leading parties.
3
The strong two-party system in Zambia is reinforced by their virtual monopoly on wealthy candidates with the capacity to self-fund expensive campaigns. Smaller parties are unlikely to grow under such hegemony.
4
Campaigns are mostly self-funded. The average candidate financed 55% of their campaign with their own resources, with the share of self-funding higher for candidates with larger budgets.
5
While the high costs of politics are likely to be a major impediment to women candidates and reduce their propensity to run, we do not find that women candidates spend less than their male counterparts.
6
60% of candidates stated that they ended up spending more in the election campaign than they had anticipated. Nevertheless, 54% stated that they would attempt to spend even more if they were to run again.
7
Corruption is both an explanation to and a consequence of costly election campaigns. The high reliance on private resources in campaigns means that elected politicians in Zambia seek to enrich themselves while in office to finance ongoing demands and future campaigns.
