Democracy News

Zambia Swears in New President with Peaceful Transition
October 4, 2011
By: Mark Hsen | Printer Friendly

On September 23, opposition leader Michael Sata was sworn in as President of Zambia after receiving 43 percent of the vote during the country’s presidential election.  After four other attempts at the presidency, Sata finally triumphed over incumbent Rupiah Banda, whose Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) had been in power for two decades.  Sata ran on a platform critical of foreign companies' working conditions, particularly Chinese mining firms.  Sata also focused on policies to help the poor and to reduce corruption.  Voice of America reports that his advocacy for the poor was crucial to his campaign, particularly in a country where approximately 60 percent of the population lives under $2 a day.

Sata has engaged in a lengthy career in politics, serving as a minister for two former presidents.  Sata entered politics in 1963 during the country's one-party rule under the United National Independence Party (UNIP) where he worked through the ranks, culminating in the governorship of Lusaka in 1985.  In the late 1980s, Sata joined Frederick Chiluba to establish the MMD to campaign for multi-party democracy.  After Chiluba's defeat of then-incumbent Kenneth Kaunda (UNIP), Sata became the National Organizing Secretary.  When Chiluba nominated rival Levy Mwanawasa as the MMD presidential candidate in 2001, Sata left the party to establish the Patriotic Front (PF) party, finally emerging victorious during the September 2011 election. 

Despite his popular appeal, he still faces staunch critics.  As reported by BBC News, critics accuse him of "political thuggery" and an inability to conduct international diplomacy.  Critics have commented on his poor relations with Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika, citing his 2007 detainment and deportation after allegations that he was plotting a coup within the country.  Sata is also known to be hostile towards Chinese investors, threatening to deport exploitative mining firms.  However, Sata has toned down his anti-Chinese rhetoric and has cautiously welcomed investors under the condition that "investment should benefit Zambians."   

With the 2011 election, former President Banda conceded defeat and attended the inauguration ceremony to support the peaceful transition process.  As reported by BBC News, Banda emphasized that previous transfers of power had occurred peacefully and he did not want to "be the first one to disturb [the] democratic process."  However, prior to the announcement of the election results, violent protests broke out in north-central Zambia.  Some damage was reported, but the incidents did not derail the overall electoral process.

Several international election monitoring agencies observed the vote including the European Union's Election Observation Mission.  These foreign observers and the Coalition of Civil Societies on Elections, a Zambian civil society group, reported that the elections were free and fair.  There were some concerns that the delay in releasing the results was a tactic by the Electoral Commission to skew results in favor of Banda, however it was ultimately concluded that the elections were "generally well administered."

Sources:
BBC News – Zambia election: Michael Sata takes presidential oath

BBC News – Michael Sata: Zambia's 'King Cobra' finally strikes

Voice of America – Riots in Zambia as Country Nervously Awaits Election Results

Voice of America – Civil Society Group Hails 'Well-Managed' Zambia Vote

New York Times – Opposition Leader Is Handed Reins in Zambia

Voice of America – Advocacy for Poor Credited for Zambia Opposition Leader's Victory

Wall Street Journal – Zambia Challenger Wins

Financial Times – Sata gives Chinese investors guarded welcome