Government News: Top Stories

Rioting erupts in Zambia over elections
by Angus Shaw

The Associated Press Translate This Article
2 October 2006

Lusaka, Zambia (AP) - Rioting erupted in the Zambian capital Sunday after President Levy Mwanawasa surged ahead in presidential polls and his principal rival slipped into third place.

The official Electoral Commission said that Mwanawasa had captured 39 percent of the votes counted so far, ahead of United Democratic Alliance leader Hichilema Haikande with 30 percent, and Michael Sata—who had been seen as the main rival—with 28 percent.

Hundreds of riot police fired tear gas to try to disperse an angry crowd of Sata supporters who mobbed the main vote counting center in Lusaka, a Sata stronghold. Witnesses said numerous supporters were bundled into police trucks.

There were no immediate reports of casualties and no reports of any trouble in other parts of the city or country.

The mood soured after partial results announced Sunday indicated that Sata's early lead of 20 percentage points had been wiped out by Mwanawasa's gains. Hundreds of his supporters ran up and down the highway by the polling center, chanting slogans.

Police said they deployed undercover officers and extra patrols, some in riot gear, at the teeming central Lusaka city market, two main bus stations and other potential trouble spots as tempers simmered over the slow release of polling results.

``We have deployed both plain clothes and uniformed officers. We don't want to take any chances,'' said police spokesman Bonny Kapeso.

Electoral commission judge Irene Mambilima said votes had been counted in 94 districts across the country, with results still to be tallied from another 56 districts.

Sata's party demanded that the electoral commission investigate alleged irregularities, including thousands of missing ballot papers.

However, foreign election observers generally commended the conduct of the election.

Observers from the Southern African Development Community said the poll was generally held in what it called ``a mature and professional manner.''

Nonetheless, the European Union noted shortcomings that included insufficient legal provisions to regulate campaign spending by parties, omissions from voter lists and imperfections in voter registration procedures.

Mwanawasa won the last election in 2001 with only 29 percent of the vote in an election marred by accusations of rigging. Thursday's elections were Zambia's fourth national vote since it ended 27 years of one-party rule in 1991.

Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Global Good News comment:

Government is only worthy of the name if it has the ability to prevent problems. In this scientific age a prevention-oriented, problem-free government can be created in every country through the application of the knowledge of total Natural Law, the Constitution of the Universe, which governs the infinite diversity of the ever-expanding universe with perfect order. With the full support of Natural Law the world can now enjoy a new world order of affluence and peace.

'The world has witnessed the rise and fall of monarchy, the rise and fall of dictatorship, the rise and fall of feudalism, the rise and fall of communism, and the rise of democracy; and now we are witnessing the fall of democracy. The GREAT FALL now will never rise to fall again. The river of time flows, the theme of evolution of life continues, sweeping away with it all that does not blossom into perfection. Now with the fall of all man-made systems of administration, a new quality of administration is dawning based on the administration of Nature's Government-perfect, eternal, and true for all time.'

—Maharishi

'Introduction to Celebrating Perfection in Administration-Creating Invincible India (418-page publication)

Translation software is not perfect; however if you would like to try it, you can translate this page using:

(Google)
(Altavista babelfish)