Zambians to go to polls as early as October - election official

A Zambian election official said on Tuesday that a general election could be held as early as next month. According to reports, the official said the provisional voters' roll was ready for inspection. The provisional register would be open for inspection for a seven-day period, but dates had not been finalised, the official added. During that time, political parties and registered voters will be able to check that their personal details and those of party members have been correctly entered. "We have now completed working on the provisional voters roll," the official told AFP. "Those whose particulars might not need any corrections must collect their voter cards," the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) said in an advertisement placed in local newspapers. Once the public inspection period has ended, President Frederick Chiluba will set a date for Zambia's presidential, legislative and local elections. In a separate development, reports on Wednesday said that riot police briefly detained an opposition leader, Ben Mwila of the Zambian Republican Party, for holding a political rally without police authorisation. Reports said Mwila was arrested in the Eastern Province shortly after addressing scores of villagers. Mwila was questioned before he was freed without being charged. He has already announced his plans to run for the presidency in upcoming general elections. He has embarked on a country-wide campaign tour ahead of the general elections expected next month or in November.