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Voting begins in key by-election

    JOHANNESBURG

    Voting opened peacefully on Tuesday amid tight security in a Zambian parliamentary by-election marred by pre-electoral violence in a working-class constituency in the capital, AFP reported. Polling in the densely populated Chawama constituency is seen as a litmus test for the popularity of Zambia’s parties that are preparing for general elections later this year.

    Several people were seriously injured in clashes late on Friday and Saturday while scores of houses and government vehicles were damaged. President Frederick Chiluba condemned the pre-election violence. “We don’t want politics of destruction in Zambia,” he was quoted as saying at a rally in Chawama on Monday.

    The parliamentary seat fell vacant when Zambian vice-president Christon Tembo quit the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to join the newly formed Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD). Chiluba then sacked Tembo as vice president. The MDD and the FDD are vying for the seat with the former ruling United National Independence Party (UNIP) and a small party the United Party for National Development (UPND).

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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