by Patson Phiri – SANF 08 No 73
Zambian Acting President Rupiah Banda was sworn in at the weekend as the southern African country’s fourth president having won a close election contested by three other candidates.
According to the final results released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on 1 November, Banda, the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) candidate, won 718,359 votes representing 40.09 percent of the total votes cast followed by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata who garnered 683,150 votes or 38.13 percent.
So tight was the 31 October presidential poll that the margin of victory was 35,209 votes.
Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development collected 20 percent with 353,018 votes while Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party took 13,683 votes.
Voter turnout was 45 percent, representing 1.8 million people, out of 3.9 million registered voters.
Banda, 71, was sworn in on 2 November as president for the next three years to complete the five-year term of Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, who died in August after a stroke.
The main opposition led by Sata has rejected the result citing a host of alleged irregularities.
Sata has accused the ECZ of rigging the election in Banda’s favour and indicated he will go to court to demand a recount.
“We will not recognise Mr Banda unless a court tells us why we should,” said Given Lubinda, a spokesperson of the PF.
“Our stand is still that we do not recognise the election of Rupiah Banda as something reflecting the will of the people of Zambia.
“We are going to ask the court to grant an order to scrutinise and recount the votes,” Lubinda told SANF in an interview after the swearing-in ceremony.
Sata has complained of numerous alleged irregularities during the vote. Among other issues, he claims that voting continued in some places while the first results were being announced.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Election Observer Mission (SEOM), along with other observer missions, has given the Zambian presidential election a thumps-up despite the claims of vote-rigging by the opposition.
“It is SADC’s overall view that the elections were conducted in an open, transparent and professional manner,” said John Kunene, head of the SEOM.
“No acts of intimidation were observed or reported countrywide,” Kunene said in a preliminary report released on 1 November.
The SEOM pleaded with the different political parties to follow the relevant institutions in Zambia to address any grievances.
SADC further commended the ECZ for its professional management of the elections and commitment to produce credible and legitimate electoral results.
The ECZ avoided a fresh voter registration exercise due to time limitations and used the 2001 voters register.
The Zambian Constitution stipulates that a presidential election be held in 90 days in the event that the incumbent passes away or is unable to rule because of health reasons.
In his acceptance speech delivered to a jubilant crowd during the swearing-in ceremony that was attended by some SADC and other African leaders, Banda promised to fight poverty and corruption.
Calling for unity in the post-election era, Banda said, “I will be the President for all Zambians regardless of colour, party or indeed tribe.”
The ruling party’s victory will be welcomed by foreign investors who have praised the late Mwanawasa’s government’s conservative fiscal policies and its record of fighting corruption.
Economic growth has consistently stood at an average of five percent per year since 2002, buoyed by a mining boom.
Banda had campaigned as the rightful heir to Mwanawasa and pledged not to make any dramatic policy changes to those of his predecessor.
Opposition leader Sata had also promised to pursue a pro-growth agenda but concerns were raised about the strident anti-foreign direct investment tone of his previous campaigns for the presidency.
Banda’s new government faces pressure to reduce poverty and improve government services, especially in rural areas that have failed to benefit from the economic boom.
Banda was born on 13 February 1937 in Gwanda, Zimbabwe and becomes Zambia’s fourth head of state after founding President Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba and the late Mwanawasa.
He was selected by Mwanawasa in 2006 as vice president because of his vast political experience. Under Mwanawasa’s leadership, Zambia achieved steady growth and won praise from the international community for progressive economic policies and a tough stance against corruption.
Apart from the excellent record under Mwanawasa’s reign, Banda has his own personal credentials as an economist, a seasoned diplomat, and a veteran politician.
