Presidential elections in Zambia today

LUSAKA – The main contenders in Zambia’s general election made a last pitch for votes on the final day of campaigning with President Levy Mwanawasa urging voters to shun the “false promises and fantasy” of his main rival Michael Sata.

At his last campaign rally in Lusaka, presidential candidate Michael Sata delivered his speech from and danced on the roof of an off-road vehicle because the throng that came to hear him had surged forward and brought down the speakers’ platform as he arrived. Campaigns in Zambia for today’s presidential and parliamentary elections are boisterous, flamboyant and sometimes cruel.At Sata’s final capital rally, the crowd chanted “no more cabbage,” a reference to President Levy Mwanawasa, who is called “the vegetable” by opponents because of his slow speech caused by a debilitating brain injury from a car accident years ago.Sata’s supporters danced with cabbages impaled on sticks and offered one to their candidate, who tore apart the leaves to deafening cheers from the crowd.The Election Commission said 4 million people are registered to vote in the presidential race between Mwanawasa, his chief rival Sata and businessman Hakainde Hichilema, the head of an alliance that includes the party of former President Kenneth Kaunda, the founding father who led Zambia to independence from Britain in 1964.Also, 150 parliamentary seats and hundreds of district council seats were being contested.The key issues are how to deal with corruption, unemployment, poverty and the burgeoning presence of Chinese in this southern African nation of 11 million.Monitors from the regional Southern African Development Community, of which Zambia is a member, said campaigning this time around was freer and rival parties were given fair access to the media, including the state broadcaster.The monitors also expected greater transparency than in previous elections.Mwanawasa, seeking his second term, and his governing for Multiparty Democracy party say they are responsible for the economic progress in the country and that progress includes Chinese investment in copper mining, the main industry and biggest hard currency earner.The president encouraged Chinese investors after South African stakeholders withdrew.The president and his party insist the level of poverty has declined in the past five years from 80 per cent to 65 per cent.Nampa-APCampaigns in Zambia for today’s presidential and parliamentary elections are boisterous, flamboyant and sometimes cruel.At Sata’s final capital rally, the crowd chanted “no more cabbage,” a reference to President Levy Mwanawasa, who is called “the vegetable” by opponents because of his slow speech caused by a debilitating brain injury from a car accident years ago.Sata’s supporters danced with cabbages impaled on sticks and offered one to their candidate, who tore apart the leaves to deafening cheers from the crowd.The Election Commission said 4 million people are registered to vote in the presidential race between Mwanawasa, his chief rival Sata and businessman Hakainde Hichilema, the head of an alliance that includes the party of former President Kenneth Kaunda, the founding father who led Zambia to independence from Britain in 1964.Also, 150 parliamentary seats and hundreds of district council seats were being contested.The key issues are how to deal with corruption, unemployment, poverty and the burgeoning presence of Chinese in this southern African nation of 11 million.Monitors from the regional Southern African Development Community, of which Zambia is a member, said campaigning this time around was freer and rival parties were given fair access to the media, including the state broadcaster.The monitors also expected greater transparency than in previous elections.Mwanawasa, seeking his second term, and his governing for Multiparty Democracy party say they are responsible for the economic progress in the country and that progress includes Chinese investment in copper mining, the main industry and biggest hard currency earner.The president encouraged Chinese investors after South African stakeholders withdrew.The president and his party insist the level of poverty has declined in the past five years from 80 per cent to 65 per cent.Nampa-AP