Zambian police went on high alert for fear of violence surrounding the presidential election, as a retired diplomat and a fiery populist geared up for their final campaign rallies on Wednesday.
The two frontrunners, acting President Rupiah Banda and opposition leader Michael Sata, planned rival rallies in Lusaka ahead of Thursday’s vote, which analysts say is too close to call.
Tensions in the race have grown as Sata, a populist known as ”King Cobra” for his stinging rhetoric, has already announced that he will not accept the result if he loses and suspects vote-rigging.
Supporters of Sata’s Patriotic Front and the smaller United Party for National Development (UPND) have already scuffled with police in the tourist town of Livingstone.
Newspaper reports said the activists threw stones and tried to block a road on Monday to stop trucks that they believed were carrying ballots pre-marked for Banda.
Authorities insisted the trucks were only carrying lanterns and batteries for polling stations.
After that incident, police inspector general Ephraim Mateyo said that he had placed officers on alert to deal with any violence after the vote.
”We are ready to deal with any perpetrators of violence. The police are on alert,” Mateyo said.
”Those who are saying they will not accept the results should go to court and not cause violence on the streets,” he added.
After Sata lost the 2006 election to the late president Levy Mwanawasa, his supporters rioted for days in Lusaka. Sata says he never condoned the violence, but his claims of vote-rigging have raised fears of unrest after the polls.
The election was called after Mwanawasa died in August. The winner on Thursday will ride out the end of his term, until 2011.
About 3,9-million people are registered to cast ballots when the polls open at 6am local time on Thursday.
During Mwanawasa’s seven years in office, Zambia experienced sustained economic growth due to soaring prices for copper, the country’s main export.
But copper prices have plunged 50% from their July high, weakening Zambia’s currency and raising fears about the country’s economic future.
Banda (71) has built his campaign on promises to stick to Mwanawasa’s policies, which he says will ensure continued growth in a country where more than 60% of the population live on less than $2 a day.
Sata is promising to transform Zambia within 90 days of taking office by forcing foreign companies to hand 25% stakes to local investors, while embarking on social spending to provide better jobs and housing.
Two other candidates are potential spoilers for either side.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema (46) is seen as a dark-horse contender, while former vice-president Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party is seen as an also-ran.
Worries about the future and discontent about the way the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has shared Zambia’s mineral wealth have earned Sata many supporters in Lusaka.
”In short, what people need is change,” Salinda Kayombo, a 49-year-old driver in Lusaka, said. ”The MMD’s term is through.
”He said he’ll change the country in 90 days and if we reach 2011 with no change, we’ll chuck him out. Zambians are awake. We want someone whose promises come true.”
But Banda supporters argue equally adamantly that Zambia should stay the course.
”We want continuity,” said Prince Simwaka, a 28-year-old butchery worker who believes Banda will win. ”I’m hoping that he’ll proceed with what Mwanawasa was doing.” — AFP
