In line with the country’s constitution, acting Zambian president, Guy Scott, has announced that an election to replace the late President Michael Sata late will be held on January 20, 2015, thereby meeting requirements to hold an election within 90 days of President Sata’s death.
As the acting president, Guy Scott is ineligible to stand as a presidential candidate under the Zambian constitution because his parents were not born in Zambia, but has indicated a desire for all presidential candidates to campaign peacefully.
“It is my prayer that peace continues during the campaigning and the presidential by-elections,” he said.
Current presidential candidates include Nevers Mumba, leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND) with a candidate for the country’s current governing party, the Patriotic Front (PF) still pending announcement.