Lusaka: Zambia's acting President Rupiah Banda Monday appealed to his opponents in this week's presidential election to accept the results regardless of who wins.
Banda, 71, said he was concerned that his main rival Michael Sata had already declared that he would not accept the results from Thursday's election if he suspected vote rigging.
"They should state that they will accept the results like I have done," Banda said.
Sata, of the opposition Patriotic Front, said he would not accept the results of the election if he lost because he believed he was the most popular candidate in the poll.
Lusaka suffered days of unrest following the last election in 2006, when angry Sata supporters rioted in the streets.
Sata insists he did not condone the violence, but his claims of vote rigging have raised fears of new unrest if the results this week are disputed.
The opposition have accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of printing extra-ballot papers to rig the vote in favour of Banda but the ECZ has dismissed the charge.
Another opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development, who is widely expected to emerge third in the close contest, has also warned of "severe consequences" if the elections were rigged in favour of Banda.
Banda said the security forces will deal with any political leader who foments violence in the aftermath of the elections being contested by four candidates, including ex-vice president Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party.
Banda was deputy to president Levy Mwanawasa who died on August 19 after a stroke.
A survey released Saturday said that Sata was the most popular candidate in the race, but also found that the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy was the most popular party.
Source : AFP
User Comments
Name : P C. C. Mbulo
Date : Wednesday, 29th Oct 2008, 14:30
Elections are very difficulty to predict. If MMD wins these elections, it’s not because they have the best candidate. A survey released Saturday said that Sata was the most popular candidate in the race, but also found that the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy was the most popular party. People don’t just vote for person attributes but also for party’s qualities and on tribal grounds. The MMD will win on account of the party and not the candidate. Don’t misunderstand me. Banda is a very nice, passionate and likable person. But what Zambians need is a person with a powerful vision and has energy and force to implement it. I’m afraid Sata qualifies but his policies are retrogressive. In my own analysis the best man for the Job is HH. I would vote for HH if he promises to include other tribes in his regime. The MMD’s mandate is only for three years. Sata’s political career ends tomorrow. Come 2011, it will be HH. Word of caution: This election is tightly and heavily contested. Anything is possible. When a regime’s time is up the following happens:<br />
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Thugs are hired in minibuses to victimize their own party members e.g. Lsk MMD Chairman.
Corrupt goons who were left dieing on the sidewalks are courted and brought in to spearhead campaigns.<br />
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It is alleged brown envelops fly all over the show.<br />
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A presidential hopeful for the party when asked on BBC what he will do for the citizens, his reply is tangent - he talks about his CV and past performance.
A presidential hopeful for the party is just a mature, wise and diplomatic fighting against a result oriented dictator and a young intelligent regionary biased corporate manager.
