Zambia's VP takes charge

2008-08-20 19:07

Gordon Bell

Lusaka - Zambian vice president Rupiah Banda, a prominent businessman, has taken over as head of government after the death of President Levy Mwanawasa and will call early elections, officials said on Wednesday.

Mwanawasa, 59, died in a French military hospital on Tuesday after suffering a stroke in June. He was a favourite of donors for tackling corruption and turning the southern African nation into one of the continent's economic success stories.

Cabinet secretary Joshua Kanganja told Reuters that Banda, 72, was now running the country.

Banda, a former foreign minister who has a degree in economics, was appointed as Mwanawasa's deputy in 2006 and is seen as a possible successor.

Attorney-General Mumba Malila said the government would set out Banda's role and powers as acting president.

Under Zambia's constitution, an election must be called within 90 days of the presidential office becoming vacant. The presidential term is five years.

Global Insight analyst Gus Selassie suggested the ruling MMD party and opposition parties might agree to delay the vote because none of them was prepared for a ballot.

"Irrespective of the timing of the election, Mwanawasa's untimely death has undoubtedly created a power vacuum both within his government and the ruling MMD, with the late president failing to groom an obvious successor," he said.

Economic policies

The Zambian kwacha fell for a second day on Wednesday, falling up to 5% against the dollar.

Mwanawasa had led Africa's biggest copper producer since 2001, winning re-election in 2006.

Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande said there would be no policy change under new leadership.

Foreign mining companies will be watching closely to see if Zambia will press ahead with a campaign launched by Mwanawasa to woo foreign investors.

Frederick Bantubonse, head of the Chamber of Mines of Zambia, which champions interests of foreign mining businesses, said Mwanawasa's death threw uncertainty into the sector, the country's economic lifeblood.

"Obviously, whoever takes over will not be a carbon copy of President Mwanawasa, but will come with his own policies," he said.

Many Zambians will be wondering if the country's new leadership will take greater steps to fight widespread poverty.

Tribute

Zambian newspapers and politicians paid tribute to Mwanawasa - a vocal critic of President Robert Mugabe of neighbouring Zimbabwe - as a champion of sound economic management and the fight against corruption.

"This is a dark day for Zambia," the state-owned Zambia Daily Mail said in an editorial. "The president's passing leaves the nation shell-shocked and grief-stricken."

Main opposition leader Michael Sata, who was reconciled with Mwanawasa in May after an acrimonious relationship, described his death as a "national disaster".

"This is the most devastating crisis ... my appeal to Zambians is to remain calm. I am sad because there are many things that I needed to discuss with him," Sata said.

- Reuters