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Election Center: Zambia's Presidential Poll Good Lesson for Zimbabwe


FILE - Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential candidate Edgar Lungu (R) speaks with Acting President Guy Scott at a rally in Lusaka, Jan. 19, 2015.
FILE - Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential candidate Edgar Lungu (R) speaks with Acting President Guy Scott at a rally in Lusaka, Jan. 19, 2015.

The Election Resource Center says the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has a lot to learn from the Zambian experience on how to deliver a credible election.

Center director Tawanda Chimhini says the biggest lesson for ZEC from Zambia should be the handling of the voters’ roll.

The Election Resource Center followed and observed the Zambian presidential elections last week.

Though there were grumblings here and there, the opposition conceded to Edgar Lungu, who was sworn in as president Monday at a ceremony graced by many dignitaries, including President Robert Mugabe.

Mr. Mugabe congratulated the Zambians for a violence-free vote. While President Mugabe found admirers in Lusaka, like he normally does on many African countries, some oppositions supporters heckled him on Saturday shouting “Mugabe Must Go.”

In a related development, dozens of foreign nationals marched in Yeoville, Johannesburg, South Africa, over the weekend protesting against the current looting and violence directed against them.

The march took place at a time when six people have been killed as a result of the looting, which started last week.

Some foreigners are accusing police of turning a blind eye on looters, which they say reminds them of xenophobic attacks two years ago that left a large number of people dead and others maimed or injured.

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