ZAMBIA goes to the polls on September 20.

ZAMBIA goes to the polls on September 20 for the fifth tripartite elections since the re-introduction of multiparty politics in 1991, amid calls for the electorate to cast their votes in a peaceful manner.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press (AP) has tipped President Banda to win the September 20 presidential polls, the Washington Post reported on September 19.
The AP analysis maintains that with Zambia’s booming economy, the incumbent is tipped to win.
This election will largely be a two horse-race between the ruling MMD and the Patriotic Front, followed by the United Party for National Development.
The election will see the MMD attempt to win a fifth term in office, the first under President Banda who took over the reins of power following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa in 2008.
Ten presidential candidates are vying for the top seat, with incumbent President Banda and PF’s Michael Sata viewed as the top contenders. The 10 parties will also be jostling for the 150 parliamentary seats and hundreds of local government positions.
It will again be a test of the popularity of the MMD, a party that has dominated Zambian politics since victory in 1991. The party has decisively won all five elections, winning 71.96 percent in 1991, 72.59 percent in 1996 and 29.15 percent in the 2001 election. The party was led into the 1991 election by the late president Frederick Chiluba.
Dr Chiluba left office in 2001 after serving his full constitutional two terms, and was succeeded by Dr Levy Mwanawasa, who remained in office until his death in August 2008.
Several opinion polls have tipped Mr Banda to win, while one gave Mr Sata an edge. Mr Sata, nicknamed ‘King Cobra’, rose through the ranks under Kenneth Kaunda, and joined the MMD just as then Mr Chiluba won the presidency.
The MMD has been a broad-based party with an array of sympathisers, some of whom, including Mr Sata, broke ranks after it became apparent that he was not the most favoured amongst many other MMD leaders in the party at the time.
The final straw which broke the Camel’s back was in 2001 when then MMD national secretary Mr Sata left the MMD after Dr Chiluba picked Mr Mwanawasa to be the party’s presidential candidate, a position generally considered a precursor to becoming republican President.
Mr Sata had before then allegedly fought and frustrated anyone perceived to have had an interest in the party presidency. His party takes a simple, populist approach which economists say is not backed by economic fundamentals.
Mr Banda is a consummate politician who has earned himself statesmanship status and has widely and comprehensively campaigned, in most cases using scientific tools, to impress on the electorate.
Mr Banda’s campaign was based on economic performance, with the country experiencing two consecutive bumper harvests in the agricultural sector.
He also put emphasis on infrastructure development which includes schools, hospitals and roads, and maintaining the country’s revenue base by opening up mines.
Under President Banda’s three years, the inflation rate has remained at single digit and economic growth at seven percent.
During his campaign launch, President Banda outlined a seven-point plan which includes increasing agricultural production to sustain food security for all Zambians, providing quality education to all children throughout the country and taking quality health services closer to the people.
The President also pledged to improve infrastructure, including roads to ease the movement of people and goods and communication.
The MMD government has committed itself to sustaining and strengthening democratic governance.
The UPND, whose president (Mr Hichilema) is exploiting his relative youth which he wants to use to his advantage in the election. He has also traversed the nation to sell himself to the expectant electorate.
Coming out not so long ago from an acrimonious engagement with the PF, in a pact that saw the most vicious war of the words yet, the two political leaders, Mr Hichilema and Mr Sata, rarely see eye-to eye.
Heritage Party president Godfrey Miyanda has been consistent with his participation in the elections, recording his strongest showing in 2001.
Newcomers National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo Junior and Alliance for Democracy and Development president Charles Milupi have pledged to create not only one million jobs by promoting an energy superpower but create 10,000 new business owners in each province and ensure a shift from poverty and vices.
Others contesting the presidency are Edith Nawakwi (Forum for Democracy and Development), Zambians for Empowerment and Development’s Fred Mtesa, UNIP’s Tilyenji Kaunda and former Minister of Finance Ng’andu Magande, who is contesting on the National Movement for Progress ticket.
According to the ECZ voters’ register certified on July 28, 2011, about 5,167,154 registered voters are expected to vote. The constituency with the highest number of voters is Mandevu in Lusaka Province with 108, 978 registered voters.
Although this is a tight contest, analysts say Mr Banda and the MMD have an edge and are likely to retain power.
And the AP noted that since Mr Banda beat Mr Sata three years ago, 100,000 jobs have been created and the government has built bridges, airports and hospitals with revenue from a copper boom.
This puts President Banda in a strong position.
In 2008, when copper prices were lower and concerns about the economy were high, then-vice-president Banda won a special by-election after the death of Dr Mwanawasa, who had suffered a stroke. Mr Banda beat Mr Sata by 35,000 votes.
President Banda has presented a four-year infrastructure development programme which began this year.
He pledges to repair, rebuild or upgrade more than 67,000 kilometres of roads and has already built more than 100 bridges and 27 hospitals.
“The new roads are here, the schools are here,” Moses Phiri, one of Mr Banda’s supporters, said.
Referring to Mr Sata’s supporters, Phiri added: “What more do these people want?”
The PF had gone to court to try to have Mr Banda disqualified, arguing he was ineligible for re-election because both his parents were allegedly born outside the country, but the Lusaka High Court dismissed the petition.
Mr Sata and his party then turned to the South African company Universal Print Group which printed the ballot papers, claiming it is corrupt and should not have been given the contract.
Both the company and the Electoral Commission of Zambia have denied the charges.
Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde has ordered extra patrols in volatile areas and banned street vendors from selling liquor and implements including shovels and axes that could be used as weapons.
In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, President Banda warned those who might be planning violence: “Expect no mercy, expect no favour, expect only the full force of the law to come down on you.”