Lusaka. - Zambia will hold a presidential election on Tuesday to replace Michael Sata, who died in October after a long illness. Various newspapers analyse the upcoming election in the light of the recently introduced tax for copper and its impact on the countries´ economy.
Eleven candidates are running for the top post in the southern African state. Zambia has been led since Sata's death by acting President Guy Scott, a white Zambian of Scottish descent who is not a candidate. His appointment created lots of attention in the international media about him being mainland Africa's first white president for 20 years but, according to the BBC, for many ordinary Zambians, his skin colour didn't seem to matter.
The main presidential contenders are Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front party and Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the opposition United Party for National Development.
Lungu is the minister of justice and defense. He is portraying himself as a candidate for continuity, saying he wants to complete economic development projects initiated by Sata.
Hichilema, an economist, says he has the necessary experience to rebuild the economy of Zambia, a major copper producer.
Zambia is the world’s eighth largest producer of copper - a metal used in plumbing, heating, electrical and telecommunications wiring.
Zambia, for decades Africa's top copper producer, was put to second place when the DRC's output grew by 50% in 2013.
"Copper becomes a surprise hot potato in Zambia's stop-gap presidential election" writes the Mail& Guardian Africa. It says the decision to hike mining royalties in copper-rich Zambia was very controversial and has not only spooked investors but has become an unlikely presidential election issue in one of Africa’s two biggest producers.
Zambia tripled mining royalties to 20% from 6% on January 1, creating tension with mining firms already buckling under a fall in global commodity prices. Some workers’ representatives, fearing a loss of jobs if the tax reforms lead to the closure of mines, have joined the chorus criticising the move.
The Financial Times agrees saying: "The government’s recent decision to amend the tax system, raising royalties on "open-pit" mining from 6 per cent to 20 per cent, is blamed for exacerbating the country’s economic concerns."
If the disputed taxes remain, Zambia’s Chamber of Mines estimates that the country stands to lose $7 billion, the equivalent of 30% of GDP, over the next five years. An estimated 12,000 direct jobs could be lost this year alone. Despite copper contributing around 70 percent of foreign exchange earnings, Zambia is ranked among the world’s most poverty-stricken countries.
Furthermore, the Mail & Guardian Africa reminds readers, that whoever wins the election will have little time to implement major programmes, with the term due to last only about 20 months to fill in for Sata.
According to the Zambian Daily Mail and the Lusaka Times there was little violence during the campaigns and the people hope that the election day will be peaceful. The newspapers call on the police and other security wings to ensure that there is no political violence on voting day so that the election is conducted in a free and peaceful environment.
Both newspaper are advising all political leaders to send a strong message to their political cadres that they must not engage in violence. They must avoid provoking their opponents to prevent violence. The chinese newspaper Global Times reports that more police officers will be deployed on Tuesday.
After the recent deaths of two serving presidents, there have been calls for the four presidential candidates - Edgar Lungu, Hakainde Hichilema, Edith Nawakwi and Nevers Mumba, who are all in their 50s - to undergo medical tests to prove they are fit to hold office. The BBC stated that it is not confirmed yet, if the candidates submitted to the request.
According to the Zambian Eyewitness News there are no reliable opinion polls. Although, Lungu is seen as the favourite, the race is tight.
