Zambian opposition to petition election results

Zambia's opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has changed its earlier mind not to petition the results of the tripartite elections held last month, The Post reported Monday.

The local newspaper reported that PF is considering petitioning the Supreme Court over the results.

In a memo issued to senior party members PF Secretary General Guy Scott said the gross unreliability of the election results is enough ground for a petition.

In an interview he said he is aware that PF leader Michael Sata does not want a petition but he wants to persuade him to accept the idea.

Scott said here that in view of the enormous efforts being exposed by the verification exercises in areas such as Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces, he believes that the overall results may be essentially meaningless.

Scott said the presidential results should be petitioned.

On the day the outcome was announced on Oct. 2 Sata said he would not petition the outcome of the Sept. 28 tripartite elections.

Sata said he would instead wage what he termed as a political battle inside and outside parliament.

The PF leader said the electoral mal-practices had disadvantaged his candidature and that of other PF candidates.

Source: Xinhua