Logistical issues won’t make it possible to hold the vote within the stipulated 30 days from when parliament closes, Banda said in a speech televised live by Zambian National Broadcasting Corp. from the capital, Lusaka, today.
“Only the vice president and myself shall remain in office to execute executive powers,” he said. “I remain head of state and commander-in-chief until elections are held.”
Banda, the 74-year-old leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, will compete for the presidency for the second time against Michael Sata, head of the Patriotic Front, the southern African nation’s largest opposition party. Sata narrowly lost in the previous ballot in 2008, winning 38.1 percent of the vote to 40.1 percent for Banda. Zambia’s economy has expanded an average of more than 6 percent a year since Banda became president in 2008 when his predecessor Levy Mwanawasa died in office as companies, including Vedanta Resources Plc and Vale SA, boost copper output.
The government will invite foreign observers to ensure the election is free and fair, Banda said.
Zambia’s kwacha weakened 0.2 percent to 4,805 against the dollar by 12:30 p.m. in Lusaka.
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