Election date finally announced

Ending months of uncertainty, Zambian President Fredrick Chiluba announced on Thursday that presidential, parliamentary and local government elections would be held on 27 December, news agencies reported.

Parliament is to be dissolved on 8 December, a brief statement issued by the presidency said.

Announcing the election date ends months of speculation and criticism of Chiluba's silence. As Zambia's rainy season runs from November to March, many civic leaders and opposition officials worry some voters might be cut off from their polling stations and effectively disenfranchised.

Chiluba is to step down as president after a decade in power, and the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has chosen Levy Mwanawasa as its candidate to replace him.

Nine opposition leaders will contest the presidency. Mwanawasa's biggest challenge is expected to come from Christon Tembo, a former army commander who leads the fledgling opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD). The FDD is likely to pose the strongest challenge to the ruling party.

Godfrey Miyanda, a retired army general and former vice-president, who leads the Heritage Party is another strong contender, as are millionaire businessman Benjamin Mwila of the Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) and Anderson Mazoka of the United Party for National Development (UPND)

Zambia has 30 opposition parties, and 10 of these have announced their intention to participate in the parliamentary poll.

Analysts believe while the result is difficult to predict, the multitude of parties contesting it weighs in favour of the ruling party because the opposition vote will be split.