ZAMBIA’S ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy won all eight parliamentary by-elections contested this week, electoral officials said. The by-elections were called after the expulsion of former environment minister Ben Mwila and his supporters from the MMD two months ago after Mwila said that he would be a candidate in next year’s presidential election. Neither Mwila nor his expelled supporters were allowed to stand in the elections because of a court case challenging their expulsion from the MMD. Mwila launched his opposition Republican Party in August following his expulsion, and his new party sponsored candidates in all the contested seats. ”The results are a sign of confidence in President Frederick Chiluba himself rather than the MMD,” said a political scientist at Lusaka’s University of Zambia. – Reuters
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