Secretary-General Congratulates People of Zambia on Peaceful, Orderly Elections

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General congratulates the people of Zambia for the peaceful and orderly presidential, parliamentary and local elections, as well as the referendum on the Bill of Rights, held on 11 August.

The Secretary-General recalls Zambia’s history of peaceful elections, and the democratic transition he witnessed when he visited the country in 2012.  In this regard, he reminds all parties, especially political leaders and their supporters, of their responsibility to reject violence and to refrain from the use of inflammatory and incendiary language.  He also reminds them to resolve differences or disputes through constitutional means and in line with international norms and standards.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting Zambia's democratic governance and sustainable development and will continue to work closely with the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Commonwealth and other international partners in this regard.