CONFIDENTIAL
002407 MDLIAN 8615
PROGRAMME (BALANCE OF PAYMENTS) SUPPORT AND TOTAL PLEDGES AT THE LAST WEEK OF THE CONSULTATIVE GROUP IN PARIS AMOUNTED TO US DOLLARS 500 MILLION. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ARE ALSO WATCHING WITH INTEREST NOT ONLY ZAMBIA'S ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE ITS DESPERATE ECONOMY BUT ALSO TENTATIVE STEPS TOWARDS DEMOCRATISATION OF THE ONE-PARTY STATE. PRESIDENT KAUNDA HAS ANNOUNCED A REFERENDUM (NOW POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 1991) ON WHETHER OR NOT THE SINGLE PARTY SYSTEM SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND IS SHOWING A WILLINGNESS TO DEMOCRATISE. WE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER AID DONORS, HAVE SUPPORTED THE PROCESS. WE HAVE NOT SAID THAT WE FAVOUR ONE PARTICULAR SYSTEM OVER ANOTHER. THIS IS UP TO THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA. BUT WE DO SEE A CONNECTION BETWEEN IMPROVED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT. KAUNDA HAS ALSO JUST ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS RELEASING THOSE DETAINED FOR COUP-PLOTTING, INCLUDING GENERAL TEMBO (MASHEKE'S SUCCESSOR AS ARMY COMMANDER) AND STUDENT RING-LEADERS OF THE RIOTING IN LATE JUNE. YOU MAY LIKE TO ASK THE PRIME MINISTER HOW FAR HE THINKS THIS PROCESS OF LIBERALISATION WILL GO. HE IS OF COURSE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR MAINTAINING THE ONE-PARTY SYSTEM CON WHICH HIS JOB DEPENDS EXCLAM) AND HE HAS SAID RECENTLY THAT HE RESENTS WHAT ARE ATTEMPTS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO USE FINANCIAL MUSCLE TO FORCE POLITICAL AS WELL AS ECONOMIC CHANGE ON HIS COUNTRY.
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