Paper short abstract:

The major aim of this paper is to critically examine the very involvement of the local non-governmental organizations in the governance process in Zambia under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) rule. This paper is based primarily on a field studies conducted in Zambia in 2010 and 2011.

Paper long abstract:

The major aim of this paper is to critically examine the very involvement of the local non-governmental organizations in the governance process in Zambia under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) rule. The paper's departure point is the non-governmental actors role in the process of Kenneth Kaunda removal from power, and public expectations that Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD, which originated in trade union movement) will launch a dialogue with civil society.

This paper is based primarily on a field studies conducted in Zambia in 2010 and 2011, when over 20 in-depth interviews was conducted with politicians, representatives of civil society, university workers and representatives of mining corporations. Research process was guided by social constructivist epistemology, and the major finding is that relations between MMD government and advocacy NGOs were characterized by mutual distrust, and mutual accusation of a lack of transparency and legitimacy. The NGOs were mainly using "name and shame" strategy while engaging the government, what together with MMD suspicious attitude towards NGOs created a specific ideational structure of mistrust and mutual suspicion, which was extremely difficult to break, and which had dominant influence on government - NGOs relations.

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