Category: Politics

{Polling stations have closed in Zambia’s presidential and parliamentary elections following campaigning marred by clashes between rival supporters.
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It is expected to be a tight race between President Edgar Lungu’s governing PF party and the opposition UPND led by Hakainde Hichilema.

For the first time, a presidential candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off.

Mr Lungu won the last election by less than 28,000 votes.

Each of the nine presidential candidates has a running mate to avoid a presidential by-election if the president dies in office – which has happened twice in the last 10 years.

The BBC’s Akwasi Sarpong in the capital, Lusaka, say there was a high turnout at polling centres in the city.

Long, calm, orderly queues formed early in the morning and election monitors have not reported any complaints, he says.

There were five votes – for president, MPs, mayors, local councillors and an amendment to the constitution on changes to the bill of rights.

As the counting begins, Zambia’s electoral commission has urged political party supporters to remain calm after final results are announced.

Observers say Zambia’s struggling economy will be a key issue.

Plunging prices for copper, its main export, have closed mines and left thousands unemployed. With economic growth roughly halved, the country asked the International Monetary Fund for help earlier this year.

In addition, Zambia, like other parts of southern Africa, has been hit by a drought that the UN has described as the worst in 35 years.

The UPND (United Party for National Development) has accused President Lungu of presiding over the “collapse” of the economy. But the PF (Patriotic Front) says it has a plan to diversify the economy.

{{Nail polish allowed}}

During the last election, some women wearing nail varnish were forced to remove it before voting as polling officials said they would not be able to apply the indelible ink correctly.

But on Wednesday night, the electoral commission circulated posts on social media saying women with “painted nails and/or false nails” could vote.

{{Zambia’s fluid politics by Nomsa Maseko, BBC News, Lusaka}}

This is an election like no other. Each voter was given five ballot papers – presidential, parliamentary, mayoral, local government and a referendum. All of these to be decided on one day. The five ballot papers each represent a separate vote. They are orange, red, purple, black and tan.

The political landscape is fluid.There’s been a shifting of political allegiances which in other parts of the continent would be seen as a betrayal.

Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba is Hakainde Hichilema’s running mate for the United Party for National Development. But before this, he was defence minister in late Michael Sata’s Patriotic Front government.

While former Deputy President Guy Scott, whose wife is seeking a position as a lawmaker in Lusaka central constituency to replace her husband, has endorsed Edgar Lungu’s main rival Hakainde Hichilema.

And lastly, Mulenga Sata, son of the late President Sata has also defected to Mr Hichilema’s UPND.

{Voting has begun in Zambia’s presidential and parliamentary elections following campaigning marred by clashes between rival supporters.}

It is expected to be a tight race between President Edgar Lungu’s governing PF party and the opposition UPND led by Hakainde Hichilema.

For the first time, a presidential candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off.

Mr Lungu narrowly won the last election with 48% of votes.

Observers say Zambia’s struggling economy will be a key issue.

Plunging prices for copper, its main export, have closed mines and left thousands unemployed. With economic growth roughly halved, the country asked the International Monetary Fund for help earlier this year.

In addition, Zambia, like other parts of southern Africa, has been hit by a drought that the UN has described as the worst in 35 years.

The UPND (United Party for National Development) has accused President Lungu of presiding over the “collapse” of the economy. But the PF (Patriotic Front) says it has a plan to diversify the economy.

A watchdog warned on Wednesday that clashes between rival political groups over recent weeks could keep some voters away.

“Escalating levels of violence may have a negative impact on the elections and reduce voter turnout,” the Zambian Elections Information Centre said in a statement.

“Political cadres have increasingly become unruly to the extent that they have shown no regard for law enforcement agents.”

On Tuesday, the head of the electoral commission, Esau Chulu, warned the two front-runners to avoid stirring unrest.

“I do not think that either of you will want to go on record as having been the two political parties who contributed to permanently denting Zambia’s record of peaceful elections,” he said.

Campaigning was suspended for 10 days in the capital Lusaka last month after a UPND supporter was shot dead during a protest.

As well as the election, Zambians are voting in a referendum on an amended bill of rights.

Poll will close at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) and results are expected late on Friday and on Saturday.

{9 August 2016 – Welcoming today the announcement by Somalia of a timetable for the 2016 electoral process, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that process for the upcoming polls, which sets October for presidential elections, is an important milestone in the country’s journey towards democracy.}

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban welcomed the announcement by Somalia’s Federal Indirect Elections Implementation Team (FIEIT) of a timetable for the 2016 electoral process.

According to the statement, this decision, which sets out the process to choose a new federal Parliament between 24 September and 10 October and President by 30 October, has today been endorsed by Somalia’s National Leadership Forum.

“The Secretary-General trusts that the agreed timetable will be adhered to, and urges all parties to refrain from any action that would cause further delay,” the statement continued, adding that the UN chief noted that the 2016 electoral process is an important milestone in Somalia’s journey towards democracy.

In that regard, he further welcomed the National Leadership Forum’s commitment to ensure transition towards a multi-party system by 2018, ahead of elections in 2020.

“The Secretary-General emphasizes the importance of Somalia’s 2016 electoral process being conducted in a transparent, credible and inclusive manner, and in a climate of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the statement said, adding that in this regard, Mr. Ban commended in particular the renewed commitment of the NLF to ensure that one-third of Parliamentary seats are set aside for female candidates.

This is an “important signal” of the country’s progress towards inclusive political governance that will allow all Somalis to enjoy the benefits of peace, the statement concluded.

{In an unusual move, the president of the west African state of Sao Tome and Principe has boycotted his own run-off election, handing victory to his rival.}

Manuel Pinto da Costa withdrew from Sunday’s poll, alleging fraud in the first round held on 17 July.

His rival Evaristo Carvalho, a former prime minister, is now certain to win the race.
He had won the first round with 49.8% of the vote while Mr Pinto da Costa had taken 24.8%.

Ahead of Sunday’s run-off, he had called on his supporters not to vote, and later reports said many of them had stayed away.

Mr Pinto da Costa ruled Sao Tome with an iron fist for the first 15 years after independence from Portugal in 1975.

He lost the presidency after introducing reforms in 1990, including multi-party democracy, but in 2011, he was re-elected to office.

Sao Tome and Principe, a former Portuguese colony, consists of two islands of volcanic origin and a number of smaller islets lying off the western coast of Africa.