Zambian voters jam polling stations

LUSAKA – Voters jammed polling stations yesterday, some arriving three hours early, after a national election campaign marked by bitter debate over President Levy Mwanawasa’s effort to increase Zambia’s foreign investment and combat poverty and corruption.

The national elections – choosing a new president, 150 parliamentary seats and hundreds of district council posts – were Zambia’s fourth since it ended 27 years of one-party rule in 1991. More than 4 million people in the southern African country of 11,5 million have registered to vote.Voters hoped for a peaceful and problem-free election, after a 2001 ballot marred by allegations of rigging and procedural snags and a 2006 campaign made rancourous with name-calling.In Lusaka, the capital, voters began showing up at polling stations at 3.00 a.m.(0100GMT) – three hours before they opened.Lines in the township of Kalingalinga were at a standstill amid confusion over a new system of voting in alphabetical name streams.Because of low literacy in the impoverished township, people “don’t know which lines to go into,” said James Mwanza, a polling agent for the opposition Patriotic Front.Voters in the well-to-do Ridgeway district said new measures designed to make the voting process easier had increased their confidence that the ballot would be fair.”I think it’s going to be much more transparent,” said Lusaka businessman Dimingo Musa, 51, waiting in line.The head of the state-run Electoral Commission, Judge Irene Mambilima, said her officials reported some logistical delays in delivering materials including ballot papers, printed in South Africa, to some voting stations.”So far, I am impressed.I think it will be peaceful.Zambians are peaceful by nature,” she said.Mwanawasa, elected in 2001 with only 29 per cent of the vote, faces four other candidates in the race – with the strongest challenge coming from populist politician Michael Sata, head of the Patriotic Front.Nampa-APMore than 4 million people in the southern African country of 11,5 million have registered to vote.Voters hoped for a peaceful and problem-free election, after a 2001 ballot marred by allegations of rigging and procedural snags and a 2006 campaign made rancourous with name-calling.In Lusaka, the capital, voters began showing up at polling stations at 3.00 a.m.(0100GMT) – three hours before they opened.Lines in the township of Kalingalinga were at a standstill amid confusion over a new system of voting in alphabetical name streams.Because of low literacy in the impoverished township, people “don’t know which lines to go into,” said James Mwanza, a polling agent for the opposition Patriotic Front.Voters in the well-to-do Ridgeway district said new measures designed to make the voting process easier had increased their confidence that the ballot would be fair.”I think it’s going to be much more transparent,” said Lusaka businessman Dimingo Musa, 51, waiting in line.The head of the state-run Electoral Commission, Judge Irene Mambilima, said her officials reported some logistical delays in delivering materials including ballot papers, printed in South Africa, to some voting stations.”So far, I am impressed.I think it will be peaceful.Zambians are peaceful by nature,” she said.Mwanawasa, elected in 2001 with only 29 per cent of the vote, faces four other candidates in the race – with the strongest challenge coming from populist politician Michael Sata, head of the Patriotic Front.Nampa-AP