Zambian government jittery in post-election environment
by planetparker
Last week Rupiah Banda was declared the winner of Zambia’s presidential election. The poll had occurred because of the death of Levy Patrick “Cabbage” Mwanawasa, one of the most upright of Africa’s statesmen. The election was close and this has led the losing candidate, Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front to call foul, saying they were rigged. Observers from neighbouring countries described the polls as free and fair, but then they said as much about the elections in Zimbabwe, didn’t they.
In recent days a Catholic priest, Fr Frank Bwalya was arrested while presenting a radio programme in which he said the elections were iffy. This happened in Kitwe, an opposition stronghold, and his arrest sparked riots by disgruntled supporters of the detained priest, chanting “We want change”. I know the felling when all you’ve got is a big note like a 20 or a 50.
