Opposition leads in Zambia

Nairobi - Opposition candidate Mr Andersen Mazoka held a razor-thin lead in Zambia's presidential poll yesterday amid heightened…

Nairobi - Opposition candidate Mr Andersen Mazoka held a razor-thin lead in Zambia's presidential poll yesterday amid heightened claims of state-sponsored vote rigging, Declan Walsh reports.

A delegation from 10 opposition parties met Chief Justice Matthew Ngulube and asked him to investigate reports of chaos and irregularities, and to block the swearing-in ceremony for the new president, scheduled for Wednesday, pending the outcome.

Some 11 candidates contested the race but with 96 of the 150 constituencies declared, it had narrowed to a two-horse race. Mr Mazoka had 349,221 votes against 346,095 for Mr Levy Mwanawasa of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy.