Electoral violence is a persistent problem in Zambia. This book is a case study of the usage, importance and impact of Public Diplomacy (PD) and Smart Power (SP) by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Zambia) and Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung (FES) in Zambia by means of collaborating with local NGOs – the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) to help elections take place among poor, uneducated voters without resorting to violence. General and by-election periods have for more than five decades generated an increased intensity of electoral violence by hired impoverished youth political cadres who are increasingly becoming more daring and lethal, capable of damaging property, inflicting injuries on victims or causing death. There is a growing urgent need for special-tailored programmes that target instigators and perpetrators of electoral violence – more definitely needs to be done besides efforts by international organisations. It is up to citizens, local NGOs and especially political parties and responsible public institutions to act in order to limit electoral violence in Zambia.

Hilda Chimamu Schwaiger has a very strong media background having worked in public relations, newspapers and radio. She has studied and worked in five countries namely Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Romania and Germany. Her qualifications include a PhD in History of Public Diplomacy in International Relations (University of Bucharest and, Academy of Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin), a Master in Business Administration – MBA General (Management College of Southern Africa, Johannesburg), a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies (University of Namibia, Windhoek) and a Certificate in Journalism (Evelyn Hone College, Lusaka).