Zambian presidential election, 2006

Zambian presidential election, 2006

A presidential election in Zambia was held on September 28, 2006. Incumbent president Levy Mwanawasa of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy was re-elected to a second term. His main competitors were Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front and Haikainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development.

Campaign

During the campaign, Sata was strongly critical of Chinese investment in the country and suggested that he would recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan). [Joseph J. Schatz, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/24/AR2006092400915.html "Zambian Hopeful Takes a Swing at China"] , "The Washington Post", September 25, 2006.] One opinion poll in September gave Sata a considerable lead over Mwanawasa, 52% to 27%, with Hichilema in third place at 20%, but Mwanawasa questioned these results. Another poll earlier in the month gave Mwanawasa the lead with 33% to Sata's 24%, although this marked a drop from the 45% reported for Mwanawasa by a previous poll in August, and an increase for Sata, who had been at 15%. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Africa&set_id=1&click_id=&art_id=qw115779996090B251 "Zambian president trails challenger in poll"] , Reuters ("Independent Online", South Africa), September 9, 2006.]

Former president Kenneth Kaunda backed Hichilema and expressed disapproval for Sata. [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1158154200812B251 "Kaunda endorses opposition candidate"] , AFP ("IOL"), September 13, 2006.] Former president Frederick Chiluba urged people to vote for Sata. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5355394.stm "Vote out president, Chiluba says"] , BBC News, September 18, 2006.]

The possibility was raised that Sata could be disqualified from the election for allegingly giving a false declaration of assets in August; he had claimed that a former minister in Mwanawasa's government owed him $100,000. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw1158317460703B251 "Lawyers reject prosecution of Zambia's Sata"] , DPA ("IOL"), September 15, 2006.] This was seen by some as an attempt by Mwanawasa to thwart Sata's candidacy.Fact|date=February 2007

Two other candidates fought the election, Godfrey Miyanda and Kenny Ngondo. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5387298.stm "Long queues in tight Zambian poll"] , BBC News, September 28, 2006.]

Results

The winner of the election was determined in one round according to the first past the post system. Initial results from the election gave Sata the lead, but further results put Mwanawasa in first place and pushed Sata into third place. [ [http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-10-01-voa20.cfm "Zambian President Takes Election Lead, Opposition Claims Irregularities"] , VOA News, October 1, 2006.] Interim results released after votes from 120 of 150 constituencies were counted put Mwanawasa on just over 42% of the vote; Hakainda Hichilema had 28%; and Michael Sata had slipped to 27%. When opposition supporters heard that Sata had slipped from first to third place, riots erupted in Lusaka. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5396884.stm "Zambia vote count sparks violence"] , BBC News, 1 October 2006.] According to [http://www.elections.org.zm/new_elections_data/results_and_summary.pdf interim results] , Mwanawasa still held an easy lead in constituencies counted up to 16:00 on October 1.

Late in the afternoon of October 2, the Zambian Electoral Commission announced that Mwanawasa had officially won the election with 43% of the vote; Sata took second place with 29% and Hichilema took third place with 25%. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5400840.stm "Poll victory for Zambia president"] , BBC News, October 2, 2006.] He was sworn in for another term on October 3. [Joseph J. Schatz, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/03/AR2006100301013.html "Mwanawasa Sworn in As Zambia President"] , Associated Press, October 3, 2006.]

The total electorate was 3,941,229 and 2,789,114 votes were cast of which 48,936 were spoilt. Voter turnout was 70.77%.

External links

References


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