Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia Photo: Harrison Tuntu
Zambia's acting head of state, Rupiah Banda, has been sworn in as president, just hours after officials said he had narrowly won Thursday's election. The ruling party beat three other contenders. According to final results, Banda beat the main opposition candidate, Michael Sata, by 40.1% to 38.1%.
Sata has vowed that he will challenge the outcome of the elections claiming they have been rigged.
Banda now succeeds the late president levy Mwanawasa who died of a stroke in France in August. He will serve until 2011, when Mwanawasa's term would have ended.
Preliminary results showed Banda with 708,683 votes versus 682,171 for Sata. The count was based on results from 148 of 150 constituencies.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia said the final result would be announced today and then a swearing in ceremony will follow.
Meanwhile, the African Union and three other regional bodies have declared the elections free, transparent and fair.
In their Preliminary reports the African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) said the election was held in a free, transparent and peaceful environment.
AU observer mission team leader Anil Gaya said the election took place in a peaceful atmosphere in which voters were able to cast their votes without intimidation.
And COMESA Observer mission leader, Johnson Wa Binana said the election was held in a peaceful manner.
John Kunene, head of SADC observation mission head declared the Zambian vote transparent.
The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa delegation leader Leshele Thoahlan said the polls were transparent because Zambians were allowed to freely express their will.
