Existing studies suggest voters are swayed by local patrons through coercion or personal ties, not political competence.

But this paper challenges that view. Drawing from original survey data of chiefs and an election experiment in Zambia,

Context: In Zambia's political landscape, traditional chiefs hold significant sway over voter decisions.

We demonstrate voters actually consider the chief-candidate alignment as a sophisticated indicator of political strategy.

Data & Methods: Using survey responses alongside experimental results from Zambian voters and local chiefs.

Our findings reveal strong relationships between chiefs and politicians directly translate to effective collaboration on public goods delivery.

Key Finding: Voters in Zambia show they're not merely reacting out of obligation—they are making strategic political calculations by aligning with chiefs who support the right candidate.

This suggests chief endorsements serve as proxies for voters' assessment of collaborative governance potential, which is crucial for local development.