Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia Photo: Harrison Tuntu
Zambia's losing presidential hopeful Michael Sata has demanded for a recount of the results after losing to Banda who has since been sworn in as president. The Patriotic Front has claimed the election was rigged and marred by electoral irregularities that can only be corrected through a ballot recount.
Party Vice President Guy Scott has disclosed that the party will seek judicial guidance on the matter after the Electoral Commission of Zambia rejected to hear the patriotic front’s preliminary request to suspend the announcement of the results.
Scott says the party’s legal committee is in the process of filing court documents to compel the electoral commission to recount the presidential ballots and ensure that they are verified.
Rupiah Banda, who was sworn in as president on Sunday, had been acting head of state since the death of Levy Mwanawasa in August and he had campaigned to maintain the business friendly policies of his predecessor.
He won 40 percent of the 1.79 million votes cast against 38 percent for Sata, according to final results released by the electoral commission. The margin of victory was 35,209 votes.
During the election campaign, Sata portrayed himself as a champion of the poor and said if elected he would act to get foreign companies to sell equity stakes to Zambians.
Zambia's losing presidential hopeful Michael Sata has demanded for a recount of the results after losing to Banda who has since been sworn in as president. The Patriotic Front has claimed the election was rigged and marred by electoral irregularities that can only be corrected through a ballot recount.
