ZAMBIA: HIGH COURT JUDGE BARS GOVERNMENT FROM DECLARING WINNER IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PENDING OPPOSITION APPEAL

Record ID: 647708

  • Title: ZAMBIA: HIGH COURT JUDGE BARS GOVERNMENT FROM DECLARING WINNER IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PENDING OPPOSITION APPEAL
  • Date: 2nd January 2002
  • Summary: (U5) LUSAKA, ZAMBIA (JANUARY 1, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV PROTESTERS SHOUTING ON STREETS; SLV PROTESTERS RUNNING TO GRAB SACKS; SLV PROTESTERS TYING UP SACKS IN CLOTHING AND BLANKETS AND CARRYING THEM OFF (8 SHOTS) 0.45 2. SLV POLICE CAR MOVING ALONG ROAD/ BEING PELTED WITH STONES AND BATONS BY PROTESTERS; SLV PROTESTERS LYING ON ROAD DOING PRESS UPS; MV POLICE LOOKING ON (3 SHOTS) 0.59 3. SOUNDBITE (English) PROTESTER, FRANCIS ZIMBABANDA "I've got no grudge with Mr. (ruling party candidate) Levy Mwanawasa. Levy Mwanawasa, if he was elected in the normal way I would respect him, but the problem is we are complaining that these elections has not been fair and Mr. Mwanawasa cannot enjoy. Let's have fresh election and let him enjoy. If he wins we've got no problems." 1.20 4. MV HIGH COURT OF ZAMBIA SIGN 1.22 5. MV POLICE TRYING TO KEEP PROTESTERS AWAY FROM HIGH COURT GATES WITH BATONS/ PROTESTERS BANGING RAILINGS (3 SHOTS) 1.53 6. MV FLAGS; SLV EXTERIOR BUILDING (2 SHOTS) 1.59 7. MV YOUNG MAN ROLLING UP BARBED WIRE; SLV SEATS SET UP IN OUTDOOR PAVILLION; SCU ELECTION POSTERS ON RAILINGS (3 SHOTS) 2.13 8. SLV PROTESTERS TRYING TO GET PAST POLICE THROUGH GATES;' MV FORCING OPEN GATES/ MOVING THROUGH/ POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS; SLV PROTESTERS RUNNING/ TEAR GAS/ POLICE; SLV MAN BEING ARRESTED; SLV PROTESTERS RUNNING/ POLICE STANDING BY (11 SHOTS) 3.50 9. SLV TEAR GAS; MV WOMAN SHOUTING; SLV TEAR GAS/ PROTESTERS (3 SHOTS) 4.10 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
  • Country: Zambia
  • Reuters ID: LVA4VTNLOD3QLJ4TKGCUX9N6DV4A
  • Story Text: A Zambian High Court judge has barred the government
    from declaring a winner in the closely contested presidential
    election until he had ruled on an opposition appeal on
    Wednesday (January 2).

    The judge had earlier abandoned his courtroom after police
    clashed with thousands of opposition supporters outside the
    High Court in the capital Lusaka. The protesters were
    demanding the court nullify the results from last week's
    election. Three people were seriously injured.

    The clashes broke out outside the court building on
    Tuesday (January 1) and forced Judge Peter Chitengi to abandon
    the courtroom where he was hearing a claim by 10 opposition
    parties that the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy
    (MMD) had rigged last week's presidential, parliamentary and
    municipal election.

    Opposition politician Robert Sichinga said that three
    members of his United Party for National Development (UPND)
    were seriously wounded when police fired at protesters in
    Lusaka's Kanyama township.

    At the High Court, thousands of protesters broke through
    barbed wire cordons chanting "We want change. We want change."
    Police armed with batons and automatic weapons fired volleys
    of tear gas inside and outside the courtroom.

    "I've got no grudge with Mr. (ruling party candidate) Levy
    Mwanawasa", said Francis Zimbabanda, a protester.

    "Levy Mwanawasa, if he was elected in the normal way I
    would respect him, but the problem is we are complaining that
    these elections has not been fair and Mr. Mwanawasa cannot
    enjoy. Let's have fresh election and let him enjoy. If he wins
    we've got no problems," he continued.

    The latest results from the Electoral Commission, with
    almost all the votes counted, showed ruling party candidate
    Levy Mwanawasa ahead of his closest rival, businessman
    Anderson Mazoka.

    Chitengi's ruling is expected on Wednesday (January 2) at
    8.30 a.m. (0630 GMT).


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