The people of Zambia are looking for a successor for their late president Levy Mwanasa who died a few weeks ago in a hospital in France.
Zambia’s constitution calls for a successor to be elected within 90 days of the death of the president.
Gilbert Mudenda is the director of the institute for political studies in Lusaka,Zambia. He explained to VOA’s Akwei Thompson the process of electing Mwanawasa’s successor from several contenders from the three main parties in Zambia. Mudenda thinks the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) seems to have a favorite candidate among those vying for the position.
“It seems they are zeroing in now on the vice-president, Mr. Banda, because they feel that if everybody is vying for the party position, that might divide the party and risk losing the election,” Mudenda said.
However, Mudenda thinks the ruling party could face formidable challenge from an alliance between Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema, two members of the opposition.
