2008 Zambian presidential election

2008 Zambian presidential election
← 2006 30 October 2008 2011 →
Turnout45.43%
 
Nominee Rupiah Banda Michael Sata Hakainde Hichilema
Party MMD PF UPND
Popular vote 718,359 683,150 353,018
Percentage 40.63% 38.64% 19.96%
Acting President before election

Rupiah Banda
MMD

President-elect

Rupiah Banda
MMD

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Presidential elections were held in Zambia on 30 October 2008 following the death of the incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa on 19 August 2008, as the elections had to be called within 90 days of his death.[1][2] It was expected that there would be internal problems within the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) as Mwanawasa had not declared a successor prior to his death,[3] but Acting President Rupiah Banda was selected as the MMD's candidate without apparent problems.[4] Michael Sata stood as the candidate of the Patriotic Front (PF),[2][5] while Hakainde Hichilema stood as the candidate of the United Party for National Development (UPND).[2] Godfrey Miyanda stood as the candidate of the Heritage Party.[6]

The elections were held to determine who should serve out the remainder of Mwanawasa's presidential term, which ended in 2011, rather than for a full five-year term.[2] The elections were decided in a single round on a first-past-the-post basis.

Final results were announced on 2 November 2008, giving Banda the victory with 40.6% of the vote against 38.6% for Sata. Banda was promptly sworn in on the same day.[7]

  1. ^ "Zambian election date announced". BBC News. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d "Zambia to hold presidential by-election on Oct.30". Xinhua News Agency. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  3. ^ Jinhai, Liu (19 August 2008). "News Analysis: Zambia faces vital political reshuffle as president dies". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  4. ^ "Zambia's ruling party picks candidate". Independent Online. Agence France-Presse and South African Press Association. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Zambia's biggest opposition picks candidates for presidential by-elections". Xinhua News Agency. 31 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  6. ^ "Four in ring for Zambia's top job". Independent Online. Agence France-Presse and South African Press Association. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  7. ^ "Zambia: Banda sworn in, riots spread". Independent Online. Agence France-Presse and South African Press Association. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.