Voters in Zambia head for the polls Thursday (30 Oct.) to elect a new president to succeed Levy Mwanawasa, who died on 19 August after suffering a stroke in June, reports BBC online Tuesday.
Mr Mwanawasa was voted into power in 2006. The winner of the 2008 by-election will serve out the remainder of the late presidents term, which was due to end in 2011.
The constitution of the Southern African nation stipulates that by-elections must be held within 90 days of the death of a sitting president. Due to time constraints, there was no fresh voter registration exercise this year so the 2006 voters register is being used for the by-election.
According to the electoral commission, 3,9 million Zambians are registered to vote. They will cast ballots for their favourite candidate at the 6.240 polling stations countrywide. The candidate with the majority of votes will be declared president. The results are expected to be announced between 3 and 9 November.
There are four presidential candidates. Rupiah Banda is acting president and is the favorite to win the elections. He is facing rivals Michael Sata, Hakainde Hichilema and Godfrey Miyanda – all of whom stood against Levy Mwanawasa in 2006.
Rupiah Bwezani Banda
Mr Banda, 70, beat 19 aspirants for the nomination of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). As deputy president, he was a close ally of Mr Mwanawasa. Mr Banda has widespread support among tribal leaders in eastern Zambia, a stronghold for the ruling party.
A career diplomat, he served as ambassador to the US and permanent representative at the UN before becoming foreign minister in 1975. Three opposition parties, the Federal Democratic Party (Fedepa), the United Liberal Party (ULP) and the New Generation Party (NGP) have pledged to support him and are not fielding candidates for the by-election.
Michael Chilufya Sata
Michael Sata founded the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party in 2001 after having fallen out with his close partner, former President Frederick Chiluba of the ruling MMD. Mr Sata has served at different times as minister for local government, labour and health.
He came second to Mr Mwanawasa in the 2006 presidential election winning 29% of the vote, despite reports of “a commanding lead” ahead of the count. He maintains the last election was stolen from him.
Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema, a wealthy businessman, is the candidate for the United Party for National Development (UPND). He ran in the 2006 presidential election as the head of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and came third. Mr Hichilema enjoys overwhelming support in Southern Province, his home region.
Godfrey Miyanda
Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party was dismissed from the army in 1990 by first President Kenneth Kaunda for involvement in an alleged coup plot. Between 1993 and 1997 he served as vice-president in the government of President Chiluba, who succeeded Mr Kaunda.
He subsequently served as education minister, minister without portfolio and national secretary still under President Chiluba. He too, took part in the 2006 election.
