Abstract

The study examined ways of mitigating electoral violence in Zambia. This study was conducted in Chadiza Constituency of Eastern Province, Zambia. The objectives of the study were: to interpret existing electoral violence prevention measures, describe current electoral violence situation, establish alternative electoral violence mitigation measures in Chadiza Constituency and construct Electoral Violence Prevention Framework. This was a hermeneutic study research design in qualitative research using inductive approach with 35 participants. In using the hermeneutics, the authors desired not to use statistics to answer the research question. A design that provides in-depth investigation of a contemporary, real life phenomenon in its context in order to generate reliable data was utilised.
Data was collected through interviews and Focus Group Discussion using snowball purposive sampling selection method. The results of the study were discussed in accordance to Reflexive thematic analysis, using themes that emerged during data analysis. The findings established that electoral violence prevention measures were in effect but not very helpful because elections continued to record some violence. Elections were characterised by vulgar language, physical attacks and reports of deaths in some areas around election period. The data analysis recommended that, traditional establishments, faith based organisations and opposition political parties should take a leading role in assisting police officers to curb electoral violence in Chadiza by applying appropriate measures that would lead to reconsolidation of people in Chadiza constituency.