Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata praised the policies of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe on Thursday as he voted in a close-fought election in which he threatens to dislodge the internationally respected president.
Sata, a fiery populist who has exploited popular discontent with government economic policies, has mounted a dangerous challenge to incumbent Levy Mwanawasa in Thursday’s poll, which analysts say is the closest since independence from Britain in 1964.
He hinted he would follow similar land reform policies to Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
”What Robert Mugabe has done is sensible,” a grinning Sata (69) told reporters as he cast his vote in Lusaka after polls opened across the Southern African country.
”He hasn’t roasted any white persons. He has just taken back what belongs to them [Zimbabweans].”
Mwanawasa (58) has urged voters to give him a second and final five-year term, pointing to an economic record which has seen Zambia win about $7-billion in debt relief from Western donors, cut poverty and push economic growth above 5%.
But he has been forced on the defensive by Sata’s repeated attacks, which have painted him as a sell-out to foreigners, particularly Western donors and Chinese companies expanding their interests in Zambia’s vast copper mines.
Sata has won fans by promising workers a bigger stake in state enterprise, major tax cuts and a 51% cap on foreign mine ownership.
The veteran politician, known locally as ”King Cobra”, said he rejected notions that Mugabe was mistaken to have seized white-owned commercial farms to give to landless blacks, a policy many economists say has helped drive once-prosperous Zimbabwe to its knees.
”Mugabe hasn’t done anything wrong. It is the imperialists, the capitalist roaders who say he is a villain,” Sata said. ”The people of Zimbabwe are not suffering. They are much happier.”
Sata repeated threats that his administration would get tough on foreign investors, particularly ”bogus investors” who fail to contribute to Zambia’s welfare.
Discontent
Sata’s Patriotic Front has won many converts among ordinary Zambians, who despite the billions in debt relief and huge foreign investments in their nation’s copper wealth have seen little going into their pocketbooks.
”I’m here to vote in order to change the system. I am a very dissatisfied citizen,” said Stephen Mukuka, a 35-year-old Lusaka businessman who was at the front of the queue at one polling station. ”We want better things for Zambians.”
Mwanawasa’s opponents say the president is not fit to lead Zambia after suffering what was described as a minor stroke in April. Mwanawasa has rejected the charge, saying he is ”fit as a fiddle”.
The president, who leads the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy, urged Zambians in a televised address late on Wednesday to reject what he has called Sata’s ”sugar coated promises”.
”Our current quest for economic emancipation is being supported by other friendly countries,” he said. ”If we are to alienate ourselves from these sister countries, our quest will take longer to achieve if not [end up] futile.”
Mwanawasa and Sata each have been tipped to win in different opinion polls, meaning Thursday’s vote is likely to be very close.
Polls are due to close at 6pm [4pm GMT], and it could take several days for a victor to emerge.
Five candidates are running for president but only one other, Hakainde Hichilema of the United Democratic Alliance, is expected to attract much national support in the election, which will also seat a new Parliament and municipal councils. – Reuters