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History of Zambia (1964–present): Difference between revisions
From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
History of Zambia (1964–present) (view source)
Revision as of 15:34, 13 October 2016
, 13 October 2016→Mwanawasa: 2002-2008
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[[File:Levy Mwanawasa.jpg|thumb|left|Mwanawasa on 16 March 2006.]] | [[File:Levy Mwanawasa.jpg|thumb|left|Mwanawasa on 16 March 2006.]] | ||
Prior to the [[Zambian general election, 2001|elections in 2001]] Chiluba tried to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. In August 2001, the National Executive Committee of MMD elected Mwanawasa as its presidential candidate for the [[Zambian presidential election, 2001|2001 election]]. He won the election, held on 27 December 2001, with 29% due to Zambia's first past the post system, beating 10 other candidates including two other former vice-presidents ([[Godfrey Miyanda]] and Gen. [[Christon Tembo]]); [[Anderson Mazoka]] came in a close second with 27%, according to official results. Mwanawasa took office on 2 January 2002. | Prior to the [[Zambian general election, 2001|elections in 2001]] Chiluba tried to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. In August 2001, the National Executive Committee of MMD elected Mwanawasa as its presidential candidate for the [[Zambian presidential election, 2001|2001 election]]. He won the election, held on 27 December 2001, with 29% due to Zambia's first past the post system, beating 10 other candidates including two other former vice-presidents ([[Godfrey Miyanda]] and Gen. [[Christon Tembo]]); [[Anderson Mazoka]] came in a close second with 27%, according to official results. Mwanawasa took office on 2 January 2002. | ||
===First term as president=== | |||
In February 2002, Mwanawasa's government filed defamation charges against ''[[The Post]]'' editor [[Fred M'membe]] and opposition lawmaker [[Dipak Patel (politician)|Dipak Patel]] for an article in which M'membe quoted Patel as calling Mwanawasa a "cabbage", an apparent reference to his injuries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1816201.stm |title=Zambia newspaper editor arrested |author= |date=12 February 2002 |work= |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=17 January 2012}}</ref> | |||
However, in a move Mwanawasa described as an attempt to promote "national reconciliation", Mwanawasa appointed a number of opposition lawmakers to his cabinet in February 2003, including Patel of the FDD as Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Industry, and [[Sylvia Masebo]] of the ZRP as Local Government Minister. However, Godfrey Miyanda, himself also belonging to the opposition, opposed the move and threatened to file a lawsuit over it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13372016.html|title=Zambian president appoints opposition members into cabinet|periodical=Xinhua News|date=8 February 2003|accessdate=20 August 2009|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> | |||
In January 2005, Mwanawasa apologised to the nation for failing to tackle Zambian poverty. About 75% of the country's population lived on less than $1 a day,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4163475.stm "I failed Zambia, says president"], BBC News, 10 January 2005.</ref> the United Nations' indicator of absolute poverty. | |||
He was elected as President of the MMD for a five-year term in 2005.<ref name=VOA6>James Butty, [http://voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-07-21-voa6.cfm "Zambia's Ruling Party Is Not Seeking Mwanawasa's Replacement, Spokesman Said"], VOA News, 21 July 2008.</ref> | |||
===2006 election=== | |||
Mwanawasa ran for a second term in the [[Zambian presidential election, 2006|presidential election]] held on 28 September 2006. [[Michael Sata]] of the [[Patriotic Front]] was considered his main challenger. His re-election was confirmed on 2 October; according to official results, he received 42.98% of the vote. He was sworn in for another term on 3 October.<ref>Joseph J. Schatz, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/03/AR2006100301013.html "Mwanawasa Sworn in As Zambia President"], Associated Press, 3 October 2006.</ref> A few days later, he named a new cabinet and appointed [[Rupiah Banda]] as Vice-President.<ref>Shapi Shacinda, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1160400961250B251 "Mwanawasa warns challenger, names new cabinet"], Reuters (''IOL''), 9 October 2006.</ref> | |||
==Banda: 2008-2011== | ==Banda: 2008-2011== | ||
