A majority of Zambians are pessimistic about the country’s direction and dissatisfied with the way their democracy is working, a new Afrobarometer survey shows.
Most citizens say the country’s economic condition and their personal living conditions are bad, and the country is headed in the wrong direction. Only about one-third expect things to get better during the coming year.
Zambians overwhelmingly support democracy and reject authoritarian alternatives. But a majority say they are dissatisfied with the way democracy is working in their country.
These findings are particularly relevant ahead of the country’s upcoming national elections on 12 August 2021.
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