(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF) is the most popular presidential contender in Zambia, according to a poll by the Steadman Group. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for Sata in today’s election.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF) is the most popular presidential contender in Zambia, according to a poll by the Steadman Group. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for Sata in today’s election.
Rupiah Banda of the governing Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) is second with 32 per cent, followed by Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) with 20 per cent, and Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party (HP) with one per cent.
In the September 2006 presidential election, MMD incumbent Levy Mwanawasa emerged victorious with 42.98 per cent of the vote, followed by Sata with 29.37 per cent, Hichilema with 25.32 per cent, Miyanda with 1.57 per cent, and Kenny Ngondo of the All People’s Congress (APC) with 0.76 per cent. Zambia’s electoral rules do not contemplate a run-off in case no contender reaches 50 per cent of the vote in the first round.
On Aug. 19, at the age of 59, Mwanawasa died at a French hospital where he had been admitted two months earlier after suffering a stroke. In line with Zambia’s constitution, vice-president Banda assumed the post of acting president and an election was called for Oct. 30.
Yesterday, the two main contenders closed their campaigns. Banda expressed confidence in a victory, saying, "No one will be allowed to upset the peace in the country. Until the election results are announced. I am still president and will not allow it. From my countrywide assessment, tomorrow I will win these elections. I will be president even for those who will not vote for me."
Sata alleged that the process may not be free and fair, stating, "We have to go and check, when you are here they are preparing to rig. You need to go and check each and every station."
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the presidential election?
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Michael Sata (PF)
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46%
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Rupiah Banda (MMD)
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32%
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Hakainde Hichilema (UPND)
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20%
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Godfrey Miyanda (HP)
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1%
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Source: Steadman Group
Methodology: Interviews with 1,062 Zambian adults, conducted from Oct. 10 to Oct. 15, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
