Credit:Željko Heimer (FOTW Flags Of The World website at flagspot.net)

Election Date: October 30, 2008

At stake: President

At stake: President

Background

Formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, the landlocked African republic of Zambia became independent in October 1964. Its first constitution was revised and abrogated in August 1973, effectively establishing a "one-party participatory democracy." The United National Independence Party (UNIP) became the dominant force, under a system where its leader became the only presidential candidate.

Kenneth Kaunda, who led the fight for independence, became the country’s first president. He would retain the position for 27 years. In December 1990, following riots and an attempted coup, Kaunda agreed to allow Zambia to become a multi-party democracy. The August 1991 constitution allowed for the creation of an electoral commission, expanded the National Assembly, and established a two-term limit for the head of state.

In October 1991, Frederick Chiluba of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) defeated Kaunda in the presidential election with 81 per cent of the vote, and his party secured 125 of the 150 elected National Assembly seats.

Chiluba would earn a new five-year term in 1996, in elections that were boycotted by the UNIP after Kaunda was not allowed to run. International observers declared the ballot had not been free or fair, and criticized the voter registration process. Chiluba’s supporters hinted at a constitutional amendment to allow him to seek a third term in 2001, but the idea was later dismissed.

In the December 2001 presidential election, Levy Mwanawasa of the MMD emerged victorious with 28.69 per cent of the vote. 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.

In 2005, Zambia qualified for close to $6 billion U.S. in debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative.

In March 2006, Mwanawasa dismissed the introduction of a second round, saying, "We will not have anything to do with constitutional matters. We will leave such matters to a constituent assembly to fix." During Mwanawasa’s term, Chiluba was charged with misappropriating $41 million U.S. in public funds during his time in office.

More than 70 per cent of Zambians live in poverty, and 16.5 per cent of all adults have been infected with HIV/AIDS. The country’s economy is heavily dependent on the copper mining industry. Zambia’s population is calculated at 12 million.

The October 2006 presidential election was largely deemed free and fair by international observers.

Mwanawasa ran for a second term in office. Three opposition parties—UNIP, the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD)—endorsed Haikainde Hichilema as their presidential candidate.

The three remaining candidates were Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party (HP), Kenny Ngondo of All People’s Congress (APC) and Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF).

Final results released on Oct. 2 gave Mwanawasa the victory with 42.98 per cent, followed by Sata with 29.37 per cent, and Hichilema with 25.32 per cent.

Mwanawasa was sworn in for a second time on Oct. 3.

Click here for Zambia’s 2006 Presidential Election Tracker

Mwanawasa was largely praised for restoring Zambia’s economy and boosting confidence for foreign investors. According to international organizations, Zambia’s economy has stabilized over the past six years, with a growth rate of around five per cent. Zambia is currently Africa’s largest copper producer.

Mwanawasa was also praised for his open criticism of Robert Mugabe, the oppressive president of neighboring Zimbabwe.

On Aug. 19, 2008, at the age of 59, Mwanawasa died at a French hospital where he had been admitted two months earlier after suffering a stroke.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy offered his condolences on that same day, stating that Mwanawasa’s death "is a great loss for the Zambian people who respected and had great affection for him. France salutes his memory, full of courage and liberty."

In line with Zambia’s constitution, vice-president Rupiah Banda assumed the post of acting president and an election was called for Oct. 30.

The winner of the October 2008 ballot must complete the remainder of Mwanawasa’s term before running for a second five-year term in 2011.

Rupiah Banda—Levy Mwanawasa’s vice-president and current acting president—is the candidate for the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). The opposition United Liberal Party (ULP) and the All People’s Congress party will not present candidates and will support Banda’s bid instead.

Banda will face two familiar faces in the ballot: Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF) and Haikainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND), both of whom lost the 2006 election to Mwanawasa.

On Sept. 3, Britain urged Zambia to hold free and transparent elections. Mark Malloch-Brown, the British Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations, declared: "I hope the government will invite European Union (EU) observers to participate in observing the elections to show the region that it holds high class elections, not like what happened in Zimbabwe. (…) We want to show support to Zambia and we are going to be making a contribution [but] we hope the elections cost will be less than [the figures] we have seen."

On Sept. 15, Ben Mwila, leader of the National Democratic Focus (NDF), announced that his party would endorse Banda’s candidacy, saying, "Our party shares more or less the same beliefs about the kind of Zambia we want. In our view our primary focus following the untimely death of Dr. Mwanawasa should be the provision of competent and ethical leadership which is capable of uniting the Zambian people, one which continues to correct the country’s ills, one which can redeem the country’s image and reputation."

On Sept. 16, the Zambia Conservative Party (ZCP) said it would not contest the presidential election but will also support Banda. A day later, the Zambia Democratic Conference (ZADECO) and the Party for Unity, Development and Democracy (PUDD) also endorsed Banda’s bid.

On Sept. 18, Banda addressed concerns that he would not retain current finance minister Ng’andu Magande if elected to the presidency since he defeated Magande in the MMD’s internal vote for the presidential nomination. Banda said Magande would stay as finance minister if he is elected in October, declaring, "I look forward to working with them all in the coming years."

Magande is a prominent figure in Zambian political and financial spheres and is widely seen as the architect of Zambia’s economic recovery. Donor countries and foreign investors had expressed concerns that he would not stay in government after the next ballot. Banda addressed their anxiety, saying, "We welcome all foreign investors for as long as they obey the laws of our country and protect our people and the environment. I will in the next few weeks announce new economic measures."

On Oct. 29, 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.”

Voting took place on Oct. 30. Sata said he would not accept a loss, adding, “There is no way MMD can win. We know the police, the Electoral Commission are all involved with trying to rig.”

Electoral Commission spokesman Cris Akufuna said the process had “gone well.” African Union (AU) observer Anil Gayan declared: “We hear lots of things, but we have not seen any visible sign of rigging.”

Final results released on Nov. 2 gave Banda the victory, defeating Sata by 35,209 votes. The opposition PF hinted at the possibility of contesting the results, claiming the tallies were “inflated.”

Voter turnout was tabled at 45.43 per cent.

Political Players

Acting president: Rupiah Banda - MMD

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote. The vice-president is appointed by the president.

Legislative Branch: The National Assembly has 158 members; 150 members are elected to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies, and eight members are appointed by the president.

Results of Last Election:

National Assembly - Sept. 28, 2006

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