Zambian presidential election, 2008
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in Zambia
on 30 October 2008 following the death of the incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa
on 19 August 2008; the election had to be called within 90 days of the date of death. It was expected that there would be internal problems within the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) as Mwanawasa had not declared a successor prior to his death, but Acting President Rupiah Banda
was selected as the MMD's candidate without apparent problems. Michael Sata
stood as the candidate of the Patriotic Front
(PF), while Hakainde Hichilema
stood as the candidate of the United Party for National Development
(UPND). Godfrey Miyanda
stood as the candidate of the Heritage Party.
The election was held to determine who should serve out the remainder of Mwanawasa's presidential term, which ends in 2011, rather than being an election for a full five-year term. The result was decided in a single round on a plurality voting system
basis.
The South African Development Community (SADC), the African Union
and the European Union
were invited to send election observers. The EU did not send observers due to the tight timeframe.
Final results were announced on 2 November 2008, giving Banda the victory with 40.09% of the vote against 38.13% for Sata. Banda was promptly sworn in on the same day.
At a press conference on 5 September, Sata demanded that a date for the election be announced. Acting President Rupiah Banda announced on 9 September that the election would be held on 30 October 2008.
The Electoral Commission set a budget of 240 billion kwacha
(about 75 million US dollars) for the election, and the United Nations Development Programme
said that it would contribute US$11.5 million. By 9 September, many provinces had received electoral materials being distributed by the Electoral Commission.
The Electoral Commission printed 600,000 more ballot papers than needed, saying that these would be used as substitute ballots in case of voter mistakes. The opposition objected to the printing of these extra ballot papers, arguing that they could facilitate vote rigging and calling for them to be destroyed. The Electoral Commission asked the four presidential candidates to attend a meeting on 15 October to discuss this issue. In response to allegations from the opposition that there were plans to rig the election in Banda's favor, Florence Mumba, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, said on 22 October that the Commission was committed to "a credible and acceptable" election and that any complaints regarding the election would be investigated.
There were initially disagreements in the MMD regarding the party's presidential candidate. The party's Chairman for Information and Publicity, Benny Tetamashimba
, argued that Rupiah Banda should be the candidate in an interview on 24 August. He claimed wide support for this in the party and praised Banda's "high leadership qualities". On the same day, however, Northern Province Minister Lameck Chibombamilimo
argued in favor of Mwanawasa's wife, Maureen Mwanawasa
, becoming the MMD candidate. According to Chibombamilimo, "her developmental work scattered throughout the country and her leadership at the continental level where she has led her fellow first ladies in the fight against HIV/AIDS" demonstrated that she had the ability to serve as President. Banda filed his application to run as the party's candidate on 26 August. The MMD in Eastern Province issued a statement supporting his candidacy, and politicians such as Vernon Mwaanga
and Mbita Chitala also stated their support; according to Chitala, Banda had the support of most members of the MMD National Executive Committee. Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande also applied to be the MMD's candidate on 25 August, saying that he was "eminently qualified" because he had "rich experience in managing state operations both internationally and locally". Former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele
and former Minister of Works and Supply Ludwig Sondashi also applied. Katele Kalumba and Michael Mabenga did not apply; Tetamashimba praised their decision, saying that it would "enhance unity in the party".
Sondashi called for the MMD candidate to be decided through secret voting, while Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe called for the candidate to be decided at a party convention and not a meeting of the National Executive Committee, as a convention would allow broader participation in the process. According to Munkombwe, Mwanawasa was nearly beaten by Anderson Masoka in the 2001 presidential election because he had been essentially "handpicked" by the MMD National Executive Committee.
It was reported on 31 August that thirteen politicians had filed to run as the MMD's candidate: Maxwell Mwamba, Pastor Nyirongo, former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele, Acting President Rupiah Banda, former Vice-President Nevers Mumba
, Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha
, MMD Chairperson for Commerce and Trade Sebastian Kopulande, Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande, Charles Ngesa, Billy Phiri, Martin Chama, former Constitution Review Commission (CRC) chairperson Wila Mung'omba and former Works and Supply Minister Ludwig Sondashi. Ultimately there were 19 candidates.
The MMD National Executive Committee chose Banda as the party's presidential candidate in a secret ballot on 5 September 2008. He had been widely expected to win, and he received 47 votes against 11 for Magande. On this occasion, Banda promised to "unite the party and the entire nation" and to "continue implementing [Mwanawasa's] programs", while expressing gratitude for the support he had received. Magande's unsuccessful candidacy was said to have been favored by Maureen Mwanawasa.
Two smaller parties, the United Liberal Party
and the All People's Congress, chose to support Banda's candidacy.
Banda launched his campaign on 18 September. On this occasion, he praised Mwanawasa's liberal economic policies, saying that they had "made us one of the most stable countries on the African continent", and he promised to continue those policies if he was elected. Shortly before the election, he announced a 75% reduction in the price of fertilizer
; this was considered a populist move intended to buttress his rural support.
Speaking on 24 October, Independence Day, Banda said that the country could "look to the future with hope because even when prophets of doom were predicting chaos following the death of Mwanawasa, Zambians were united in ensuring that the due process of the law is observed as we prepare for his successor". He called for a high turnout in the election.
In reaction to Sata's statement that he would reject the results if he lost, Banda urged his opponents to accept the results on 27 October, warning that anyone who incited violence in the wake of the election could face arrest.
investments if he was elected, abandoning the hostility towards Chinese investment that he had expressed during the 2006 presidential election campaign.
On 15 October, Sata said that, if elected, he would require foreign investors to reserve at least 25% of the shares in their companies for Zambians, with the penalty of losing their licenses if they did not do so. Sata has also said that he would reduce taxes on government employees and improve housing, rural industries, and agriculture.
Prior to the election, Sata stated that he would not accept the results if they showed that he was defeated, believing that he could not legitimately lose. Supporters of Sata in Livingstone
set up a roadblock on 28 October to halt trucks that they believed might be transporting pre-marked ballots from South Africa into the country through Zimbabwe
; they were dispersed by police with tear gas. The Electoral Commission said that the trucks only contained lamps and batteries. At his last rally of the campaign, held in Lusaka on 29 October, Sata denied that he was seeking to incite unrest, but he remained unwilling to state ahead of time that he would accept the results.
There have been some concerns about Sata's health; although he has appeared vigorous in the period leading up to the election, he suffered a heart attack in April 2008 and had to be evacuated to South Africa.
(UNIP) Deputy Secretary-General Alfred Banda said that UNIP would contest the election with Tilyenji Kaunda
as its candidate, according to The Post on 26 August. UNIP's Information and Publicity Secretary for Copperbelt Province
, Brian Chishimba, had previously said that the party would not present a candidate due to internal disagreements, but Alfred Banda dismissed this statement. The UNIP ultimately did not present a candidate in the election, however.
According to early results from 19 of the 150 constituencies on 31 October, Sata had 60% of the vote and Banda had almost 31%. Later in the day, results from 43 constituencies showed Sata leading with 50.6% to Banda's 33.8%. These early results were mainly from urban constituencies, where the PF enjoyed strong support; the MMD's support was primarily based in rural areas. As voting continued on 31 October, results from 60 constituencies gave Sata a smaller lead: 43.8% against Banda's 34.1%. Hichilema, meanwhile, had 13.8%, and Miyanda had 0.6%. With results from 93 constituencies counted, Sata had 41% to Banda's 37%, with Hichilema at 20%. According to the Electoral Commission and African Union observers, voting went well and there were no major problems. An MMD prediction on television that Banda would defeat Sata by a 60,000 vote margin led the PF to allege that the prediction was part of an effort to manipulate the results.
Early on 1 November, results from 102 constituencies showed Sata still narrowly ahead with 40% against 38% for Banda. As votes continued to be counted, results from 108 constituencies placed Sata at 39.8%, Banda at 37.9%, Hichilema at 20.3%, and Miyanda at 0.8%. Results from the afternoon, with 137 constituencies counted, showed Sata leading with 39.9% to Banda's 39.1%, while Hichilema had 19% and Miyanda had 0.7%. The PF asked for vote counting to be stopped to allow for an investigation into irregularities. On the same day, the SADC observer mission endorsed the election as "credible, peaceful, well-managed and transparent". Results from the evening of 1 November, with 148 constituencies counted, showed Banda leading with 40.0% to Sata's 38.5%, Hichilema at 19.5% and Miyanda at 0.8%. Complaining of irregularities, the PF did not accept these results and stated that it would go to the courts to seek a recount. Final results were announced on 2 November 2008, confirming Banda's victory with 40.09% of the vote against 38.13% for Sata. Banda was promptly sworn in at State House on the same day, using his speech on the occasion to call for unity. Turnout was placed at 45%; the use of the outdated voters roll reportedly reduced participation, as some people were unable to vote.
When Banda overtook Sata in the results, Sata's supporters in parts of Lusaka began rioting on 1 November, and riots also broke out in Kitwe
on the next day. The Foundation for Democratic Process, a non-governmental organization
that conducted its own vote count, said that its results matched the results given by the Electoral Commission. The PF said on 3 November that it wanted a recount, subject to independent verification, to be held in 78 constituencies. Hichilema alleged fraud as well, but he said that he did not plan to present a legal challenge to the results. Speaking on South African radio on 4 November, Sata denied that he had been defeated and stated: "Rupiah Banda has no vision, Rupiah Banda has no platform. The only platform Rupiah Banda is on is cheating." On 5 November, the Electoral Commission said that only a verification exercise, not a recount, would be conducted. It said that the verification exercise was a matter of standard procedure, but that a recount would require a court order. Within two days, the verification exercise was suspended in Lusaka after a physical altercation between members of the MMD and the PF. A member of the MMD alleged that Sata punched him during this brawl, but the PF disputed that claim.
Catholic priest Frank Bwalya
was arrested on 12 November and charged with incitement of violence based on a broadcast on Radio Icengelo, which discussed matters related to the election; he was arrested after refusing to halt the broadcast. In response to the arrest, PF supporters in Kitwe protested violently; they were dispersed with tear gas and 38 people were arrested on 13 November. Bwalya was released on bail on the same day.
In a Cabinet reshuffle on 14 November, Banda dismissed five members of the Cabinet. He appointed George Kunda
as Vice President and chose Situmbeko Musokotwane
to replace Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande.
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
on 30 October 2008 following the death of the incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption...
on 19 August 2008; the election had to be called within 90 days of the date of death. It was expected that there would be internal problems within the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) as Mwanawasa had not declared a successor prior to his death, but Acting President Rupiah Banda
Rupiah Banda
Rupiah Bwezani Banda is a Zambian politician who was President of Zambia from 2008 to 2011.During the Presidency of Kenneth Kaunda, Banda held important diplomatic posts and was active in politics as a member of the United National Independence Party...
was selected as the MMD's candidate without apparent problems. Michael Sata
Michael Sata
Michael Chilufya Sata is a Zambian politician who has been the fifth President of Zambia since 23 September 2011. He leads the Patriotic Front , a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty...
stood as the candidate of the Patriotic Front
Patriotic Front (Zambia)
The Patriotic Front movement is the Zambian ruling political party. It is currently the most widely supported political party in Zambia. The Party was formed by Michael Sata as a breakaway party of the MMD in 2001. This was after the then-president Frederick Chiluba nominated Levy Mwanawasa as the...
(PF), while Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian politician and the President of the United Party for National Development . He replaced Anderson Mazoka after an interparty election, organized by functioning party president Sakwiba Sikota, which followed Mazoka's death in May 2006...
stood as the candidate of the United Party for National Development
United Party for National Development
The United Party for National Development is a liberal political party in Zambia.At the 2001 legislative elections, held on 27 December 2001, the party won 23.3% of popular votes and 49 out of 159 seats...
(UPND). Godfrey Miyanda
Godfrey Miyanda
Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda is a Zambian politician and former military figure. In 1994 he became Vice President of Zambia under Frederick Chiluba's administration. Formerly a member of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, Miyanda is the President of the Heritage Party.-References:...
stood as the candidate of the Heritage Party.
The election was held to determine who should serve out the remainder of Mwanawasa's presidential term, which ends in 2011, rather than being an election for a full five-year term. The result was decided in a single round on a plurality voting system
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
basis.
The South African Development Community (SADC), the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
were invited to send election observers. The EU did not send observers due to the tight timeframe.
Final results were announced on 2 November 2008, giving Banda the victory with 40.09% of the vote against 38.13% for Sata. Banda was promptly sworn in on the same day.
Organizing, budgeting and financing
Following Mwanawasa's death, some questioned whether it would be financially possible for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to hold an election within the designated timeframe. It was also suggested that it would be necessary to hold the election without updating the voters' roll, but using an outdated voters' roll could cause complications during an election. The Electoral Commission decided to use the voters' roll from the 2006 election due to lack of time. A group called Anti-Vote Rigging, which was aligned with the opposition, took the matter to the High Court, seeking a decision that would force the Electoral Commission to "register new voters ahead of the elections because most people will be defranchised". The High Court ruled on 14 October that it was acceptable to use the old voters' roll due to time constraints.At a press conference on 5 September, Sata demanded that a date for the election be announced. Acting President Rupiah Banda announced on 9 September that the election would be held on 30 October 2008.
The Electoral Commission set a budget of 240 billion kwacha
Zambian kwacha
The kwacha is the currency of Zambia. It is subdivided into 100 ngwee.-Etymology:The name derives from the Nyanja and Bemba word for "dawn", alluding to the Zambian nationalist slogan of a "new dawn of freedom"...
(about 75 million US dollars) for the election, and the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
said that it would contribute US$11.5 million. By 9 September, many provinces had received electoral materials being distributed by the Electoral Commission.
The Electoral Commission printed 600,000 more ballot papers than needed, saying that these would be used as substitute ballots in case of voter mistakes. The opposition objected to the printing of these extra ballot papers, arguing that they could facilitate vote rigging and calling for them to be destroyed. The Electoral Commission asked the four presidential candidates to attend a meeting on 15 October to discuss this issue. In response to allegations from the opposition that there were plans to rig the election in Banda's favor, Florence Mumba, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, said on 22 October that the Commission was committed to "a credible and acceptable" election and that any complaints regarding the election would be investigated.
Parties and candidates
On 27 September 2008, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala announced that four candidates had validly filed and would stand in the election: Banda for the MMD, Sata for the PF, Hichilema for the UPND, and Miyanda for the Heritage Party. Banda and Sata are considered the frontrunners. Two opinion polls conducted before the election showed Sata in the lead; one of them was conducted by the Steadman Group, which is based in Kenya, and it showed Sata with 40% support and Banda with 29% support. The MMD released a poll on 29 October that placed Banda's support at 42–46% and Sata's support at 31–35%.MMD
Acting President Rupiah Banda, who succeeded Mwanawasa due to his position as Vice-President, is the MMD candidate.There were initially disagreements in the MMD regarding the party's presidential candidate. The party's Chairman for Information and Publicity, Benny Tetamashimba
Benny Tetamashimba
Benny Tetamashimba was a Zambian Movement for Multiparty Democracy politician and had been a Member of Parliament for Solwezi central from 2001 to 2009 when he died...
, argued that Rupiah Banda should be the candidate in an interview on 24 August. He claimed wide support for this in the party and praised Banda's "high leadership qualities". On the same day, however, Northern Province Minister Lameck Chibombamilimo
Lameck Chibombamilimo
Lameck Chibombamilimo has served as Member of the National Assembly of Zambia for Mpulungu Constitutency since 2006. He is also the Minister of Northern Province....
argued in favor of Mwanawasa's wife, Maureen Mwanawasa
Maureen Mwanawasa
Maureen Mwanawasa is the widow of former Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa.- Biography :As early as 2006, Mwanawasa was seen as a potential candidate for president of the country, but following her husband's death, did not file as a potential candidate to represent her husband's party in the election...
, becoming the MMD candidate. According to Chibombamilimo, "her developmental work scattered throughout the country and her leadership at the continental level where she has led her fellow first ladies in the fight against HIV/AIDS" demonstrated that she had the ability to serve as President. Banda filed his application to run as the party's candidate on 26 August. The MMD in Eastern Province issued a statement supporting his candidacy, and politicians such as Vernon Mwaanga
Vernon Mwaanga
-Life:Born near Choma, Mwaanga studied political science and international relations in the United Kingdom. In October 1964 he became Zambia's first diplomat, as deputy high commissioner in London. He was ambassador to Moscow in 1965, before returning to Zambia for two years, handling negotiations...
and Mbita Chitala also stated their support; according to Chitala, Banda had the support of most members of the MMD National Executive Committee. Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande also applied to be the MMD's candidate on 25 August, saying that he was "eminently qualified" because he had "rich experience in managing state operations both internationally and locally". Former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele
Enoch Kavindele
Enoch Kavindele is a Zambian politician who has served as the Vice-President of Zambia. He has called for a common African currency as a means to achieve economic integration throughout the continent.-References:*...
and former Minister of Works and Supply Ludwig Sondashi also applied. Katele Kalumba and Michael Mabenga did not apply; Tetamashimba praised their decision, saying that it would "enhance unity in the party".
Sondashi called for the MMD candidate to be decided through secret voting, while Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe called for the candidate to be decided at a party convention and not a meeting of the National Executive Committee, as a convention would allow broader participation in the process. According to Munkombwe, Mwanawasa was nearly beaten by Anderson Masoka in the 2001 presidential election because he had been essentially "handpicked" by the MMD National Executive Committee.
It was reported on 31 August that thirteen politicians had filed to run as the MMD's candidate: Maxwell Mwamba, Pastor Nyirongo, former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele, Acting President Rupiah Banda, former Vice-President Nevers Mumba
Nevers Mumba
Nevers Mumba is a Zambian politician and minister. He served as Vice-President of Zambia for a time under Levy Mwanawasa; he has also founded evangelistic campaigns and ministries and once served as pastor of the Victory Bible Church....
, Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha
Ronnie Shikapwasha
Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha is the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services of Zambia. He has held that post since 2008...
, MMD Chairperson for Commerce and Trade Sebastian Kopulande, Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande, Charles Ngesa, Billy Phiri, Martin Chama, former Constitution Review Commission (CRC) chairperson Wila Mung'omba and former Works and Supply Minister Ludwig Sondashi. Ultimately there were 19 candidates.
The MMD National Executive Committee chose Banda as the party's presidential candidate in a secret ballot on 5 September 2008. He had been widely expected to win, and he received 47 votes against 11 for Magande. On this occasion, Banda promised to "unite the party and the entire nation" and to "continue implementing [Mwanawasa's] programs", while expressing gratitude for the support he had received. Magande's unsuccessful candidacy was said to have been favored by Maureen Mwanawasa.
Two smaller parties, the United Liberal Party
United Liberal Party
The United Liberal Party is a political party in Zambia. It was formed in July 2006 by Sakwiba Sikota after he lost the contest to become leader of the United Party for National Development. In the 28 September 2006 National Assembly election results the party won 2 out of 159 seats. The ULP later...
and the All People's Congress, chose to support Banda's candidacy.
Banda launched his campaign on 18 September. On this occasion, he praised Mwanawasa's liberal economic policies, saying that they had "made us one of the most stable countries on the African continent", and he promised to continue those policies if he was elected. Shortly before the election, he announced a 75% reduction in the price of fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
; this was considered a populist move intended to buttress his rural support.
Speaking on 24 October, Independence Day, Banda said that the country could "look to the future with hope because even when prophets of doom were predicting chaos following the death of Mwanawasa, Zambians were united in ensuring that the due process of the law is observed as we prepare for his successor". He called for a high turnout in the election.
In reaction to Sata's statement that he would reject the results if he lost, Banda urged his opponents to accept the results on 27 October, warning that anyone who incited violence in the wake of the election could face arrest.
PF
Michael Sata, the leader of the opposition Patriotic Front, is standing as the PF candidate in the election. He was unanimously chosen as the party's candidate at a meeting of its Central Committee on 30 August 2008. Accepting the nomination, he expressed the need "to scrub this country and wash it"; he also said that he would refrain from campaigning until after Mwanawasa's funeral. Although he suffered a heart attack in April 2008, Sata said that he was healthy and in good condition. He said on 8 September that he would protect ChinesePeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
investments if he was elected, abandoning the hostility towards Chinese investment that he had expressed during the 2006 presidential election campaign.
On 15 October, Sata said that, if elected, he would require foreign investors to reserve at least 25% of the shares in their companies for Zambians, with the penalty of losing their licenses if they did not do so. Sata has also said that he would reduce taxes on government employees and improve housing, rural industries, and agriculture.
Prior to the election, Sata stated that he would not accept the results if they showed that he was defeated, believing that he could not legitimately lose. Supporters of Sata in Livingstone
Livingstone, Zambia
Livingstone or Maramba is a historic colonial city and present capital of the Southern Province of Zambia, a tourism centre for the Victoria Falls lying north of the Zambezi River, and a border town with road and rail connections to Zimbabwe on the other side of the Falls...
set up a roadblock on 28 October to halt trucks that they believed might be transporting pre-marked ballots from South Africa into the country through Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
; they were dispersed by police with tear gas. The Electoral Commission said that the trucks only contained lamps and batteries. At his last rally of the campaign, held in Lusaka on 29 October, Sata denied that he was seeking to incite unrest, but he remained unwilling to state ahead of time that he would accept the results.
There have been some concerns about Sata's health; although he has appeared vigorous in the period leading up to the election, he suffered a heart attack in April 2008 and had to be evacuated to South Africa.
UPND
The PF and United Party for National Development were reportedly in talks over an electoral pact in August. However, the UPND decided to contest the election alone, with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema as the party's candidate. Hichilema has promised free health care for all citizens, free primary and secondary education, and improved housing. Some feel he is too young and inexperienced for the presidency, and the UPND has been criticized as a tribally-based party. Hichilema said before the election that if electoral fraud occurred, there would be "severe consequences".UNIP
United National Independence PartyUnited National Independence Party
The United National Independence Party is a political party in Zambia. It governed that country from 1964 to 1991 under the presidency of Kenneth Kaunda....
(UNIP) Deputy Secretary-General Alfred Banda said that UNIP would contest the election with Tilyenji Kaunda
Tilyenji Kaunda
Tilyenji Kaunda is a Zambian politician who is currently the President of the United National Independence Party . He became party leader in 2001, succeeding Francis Nkhoma. His father, former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, was the President of UNIP from 1960 to 2000.Kaunda stood as a candidate...
as its candidate, according to The Post on 26 August. UNIP's Information and Publicity Secretary for Copperbelt Province
Copperbelt Province
Copperbelt Province in Zambia covers the mineral-rich Copperbelt, and farming and bush areas to the south. It was the backbone of the Northern Rhodesian economy during British colonial rule and fuelled the hopes of the immediate post-independence period, but its economic importance was severely...
, Brian Chishimba, had previously said that the party would not present a candidate due to internal disagreements, but Alfred Banda dismissed this statement. The UNIP ultimately did not present a candidate in the election, however.
Election day and results
Voting began at 6:00 in the morning on 30 October and was scheduled to end 12 hours later. Sata voted in central Lusaka and "emphatically" reiterated that he would not accept a victory for Banda, saying that there was "no way MMD can win". He also alleged that the Electoral Commission and the police were working together to rig the election. An apparent attempt at fraud was reported in Lusaka, where an election officer was arrested after he was found carrying an envelope containing ballots that were pre-marked in favor of Banda.According to early results from 19 of the 150 constituencies on 31 October, Sata had 60% of the vote and Banda had almost 31%. Later in the day, results from 43 constituencies showed Sata leading with 50.6% to Banda's 33.8%. These early results were mainly from urban constituencies, where the PF enjoyed strong support; the MMD's support was primarily based in rural areas. As voting continued on 31 October, results from 60 constituencies gave Sata a smaller lead: 43.8% against Banda's 34.1%. Hichilema, meanwhile, had 13.8%, and Miyanda had 0.6%. With results from 93 constituencies counted, Sata had 41% to Banda's 37%, with Hichilema at 20%. According to the Electoral Commission and African Union observers, voting went well and there were no major problems. An MMD prediction on television that Banda would defeat Sata by a 60,000 vote margin led the PF to allege that the prediction was part of an effort to manipulate the results.
Early on 1 November, results from 102 constituencies showed Sata still narrowly ahead with 40% against 38% for Banda. As votes continued to be counted, results from 108 constituencies placed Sata at 39.8%, Banda at 37.9%, Hichilema at 20.3%, and Miyanda at 0.8%. Results from the afternoon, with 137 constituencies counted, showed Sata leading with 39.9% to Banda's 39.1%, while Hichilema had 19% and Miyanda had 0.7%. The PF asked for vote counting to be stopped to allow for an investigation into irregularities. On the same day, the SADC observer mission endorsed the election as "credible, peaceful, well-managed and transparent". Results from the evening of 1 November, with 148 constituencies counted, showed Banda leading with 40.0% to Sata's 38.5%, Hichilema at 19.5% and Miyanda at 0.8%. Complaining of irregularities, the PF did not accept these results and stated that it would go to the courts to seek a recount. Final results were announced on 2 November 2008, confirming Banda's victory with 40.09% of the vote against 38.13% for Sata. Banda was promptly sworn in at State House on the same day, using his speech on the occasion to call for unity. Turnout was placed at 45%; the use of the outdated voters roll reportedly reduced participation, as some people were unable to vote.
When Banda overtook Sata in the results, Sata's supporters in parts of Lusaka began rioting on 1 November, and riots also broke out in Kitwe
Kitwe
Kitwe is the second largest city in terms of size and population in Zambia. With a population of 547,700 Kitwe is one of the most developed commercial and industrial areas in the nation, alongside Ndola and Lusaka...
on the next day. The Foundation for Democratic Process, a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
that conducted its own vote count, said that its results matched the results given by the Electoral Commission. The PF said on 3 November that it wanted a recount, subject to independent verification, to be held in 78 constituencies. Hichilema alleged fraud as well, but he said that he did not plan to present a legal challenge to the results. Speaking on South African radio on 4 November, Sata denied that he had been defeated and stated: "Rupiah Banda has no vision, Rupiah Banda has no platform. The only platform Rupiah Banda is on is cheating." On 5 November, the Electoral Commission said that only a verification exercise, not a recount, would be conducted. It said that the verification exercise was a matter of standard procedure, but that a recount would require a court order. Within two days, the verification exercise was suspended in Lusaka after a physical altercation between members of the MMD and the PF. A member of the MMD alleged that Sata punched him during this brawl, but the PF disputed that claim.
Catholic priest Frank Bwalya
Frank Bwalya
Father Frank Bwalya is a Zambian political activist, enjoying support from opposition Patriotic Front.He has held positions as Chairperson for Broadcasting for the Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zambia for 2007–2008, and he worked for Radio Icengelo in 2007.He has had a number of brushes with...
was arrested on 12 November and charged with incitement of violence based on a broadcast on Radio Icengelo, which discussed matters related to the election; he was arrested after refusing to halt the broadcast. In response to the arrest, PF supporters in Kitwe protested violently; they were dispersed with tear gas and 38 people were arrested on 13 November. Bwalya was released on bail on the same day.
In a Cabinet reshuffle on 14 November, Banda dismissed five members of the Cabinet. He appointed George Kunda
George Kunda
George Kunda is a Zambian lawyer and politician. He was the Vice-President of Zambia, in which capacity he served between 2008 and 2011. He served under President Rupiah Banda until their party's loss to Michael Sata's party.The son of a miner, Kunda worked as a lawyer before entering politics...
as Vice President and chose Situmbeko Musokotwane
Situmbeko Musokotwane
Situmbeko Musokotwane is the current Minister of Finance of Zambia.-References:...
to replace Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande.