Zambias acting head of state, Rupiah Banda, has been sworn in as president, just two hours after officials said he had narrowly won Thursdays election in the Southern African country, BBC online reports Sunday.
According to final results, Mr Banda beat the main opposition candidate, Michael Sata, by 40,1 per cent to 38,1 per cent. Earlier, Mr Sata rejected the result, saying a “bunch of thieves” had stolen the vote. His Patriotic Front said it would go to court to demand a recount. But African regional electoral monitors said voting had been free and fair.
Mr Banda took over from President Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August having suffered a stroke a few months earlier. The 71-year-old former diplomat and ex-vice-president has promised to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.
Although Mr Mwanawasa reined in inflation and built up impressive foreign reserves, Zambia remains one of the worlds poorest countries with more than 60 per cent of the population living on less than 2 US dollar (11 DKR) a day.
Mr Banda will serve until 2011, when Mr Mwanawasas term would have ended.
Se også telegrammet www.u-landsnyt.dk/indhold.asp?ID=16364&mode=Nyhed
