Voting Ends in Zambian Election, Scattered Violence in Capital

Posted September 20th, 2011 at 4:20 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Voting has ended in a Zambian general election that E.U. observers say was conducted in a “correct” manner, despite scattered incidents of violence in the capital, Lusaka.

E.U. chief election observer Maria Muniz described the election as fair and transparent and said violence was isolated. Zambian police reported some violent incidents in the capital, Lusaka, but said order was restored quickly.

Pre-election surveys suggested a close race in the presidential election between the incumbent Rupiah Banda and nationalist opposition leader Michael Sata. Initial results are expected Wednesday.

President Banda campaigned on a record of several years of strong economic growth in copper-rich Zambia, which has benefited from a boom in global commodity prices.

Mr. Sata's Patriotic Front accused President Banda of tolerating corruption and not doing enough to ensure that more Zambians share in the wealth of the country's copper reserves.

A delayed start at one polling station in Lusaka angered some voters who threw stones at police and set vehicles on fire. In another part of the capital, people assaulted a man they accused of carrying pre-marked ballots. Election officials said the allegation could not be substantiated. Five people were arrested for election-related disturbances.

Mr. Banda defeated Mr. Sata by two percentage points in a 2008 special election to complete the term of late President Levy Mwanawasa, who had died of a stroke. Mr. Banda had served as Mr. Mwanawasa's deputy. Mr. Sata disputed the results, and his supporters rioted for days afterward.

More than five-million Zambians were registered to vote in Tuesday's presidential, parliamentary and local elections.