Zambian Presidential Elections

Zambia goes to the polls on September 20, 2011. The opposition seems to be panicking, particularly the largest opposition party, Patriotic front. the ruling MMD has gained momentum but it remains a close to call election. according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the ruling MMD is more likely to win the elections with its candidate Rupiah Banda.

The opposition PF had predicted that soon after parliament is dissolved, there would be massive resignations from the ruling MMD by ministers and other senior officials. This has not happened, despite parliament having been dissolved last week on July 28, 2011.

Widespread speculation among the electorate, analysts and observers is that this has thrown the opposition PF's strategy into disarray, as, apparently, it was hoping to use this as a strategy to lighten the campaign and move with the momentum into the election day. It appears as a result of this disappointment, the leading opposition has resorted to other tactics of blocking the incumbent head of state, notably through court action alleging that his parents were not Zambian and, as such, he does not qualify to stand as President of Zambia.

But lawyers who have handled this consitutional matter in a previous electoral dispute involving ex-Zambian President, late Frederick Chiluba's parentage, argue that the case by PF is a non-starter.

According to the Times of Zambia, Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota has said the PF is wasting time by attempting to block President Rupiah Banda’s candidature because the question of the parentage of a presidential candidate was resolved in both the late second president Frederick Chiluba’s petition and the case against first president Kenneth Kaunda.

And another lawyer, Mwangala Zaloumis said the on-going debate on whether President Banda qualified to contest the presidency on account of the nationality of his parents was a waste of time.

Mr Sikota, who was one of the attorneys in the presidential petition of 1996 against Dr Chiluba’s parentage, said the PF and Mr Sata, who were engaging in unfruitful debates not benefitting the people, had demonstrated that they were not prepared to run Zambia.

Referring to the case of Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, Hicuunga Evaristo Kambaila, Dean Namulya Mung’omba, Sebastian Saizi Zulu, Jennifer Mwaba Phiri versus Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba, Mr Sikota said the PF was “running into a blind alley” over the parentage issue.

“We would like to advise the PF to consult with lawyers that were involved in the presidential petition of 1996, which included questions over late Dr Chiluba’s parentage. The lawyers are Professor Patrick Mvunga SC, Hon Sakwiba Sikota SC, Nellie Mutti, Erick Silwamba SC, and Vincent Malambo SC. All these men can confirm that it is a waste of time for the PF to ask the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to look into the matter,” lawyer Sikota is quoted by Times of Zambia.

Meanwhile, the MMD has said it will not replace Rupiah Banda as its presidential candidate in the September 20 polls. MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu says it is worrisome that the opposition Patriotic Front has started coming up with gimmicks when it has realized that it has already lost the elections to the MMD.

In an interview with local radio station Q FM, Mr. Nyangu has accused the PF of trying to find a weaker candidate to face in the forthcoming general election as it has realized that president Banda is a saleable and winning candidate.