Jubilation and dance characterised the streets of Lusaka, the country’s capital city after final results of Tuesday’s tripartite elections were announced at the national totalling centre at Mulungushi Conference Centre shortly after midnight.
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, who is Returning Officer of the election to the office of President, declared Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Chilufya Sata duly elected President of the Republic of Zambia at exactly 00:34 hours this morning.
This is after he polled 1, 150,045 representing 43 percent against his closest rival out-going President Rupiah Banda with seven constituencies remaining to be counted.
Following the announcement of results, scores of Lusaka residents took to the streets in solidarity of the President elect chanting pro-PF slogans of “Don’t Kubeba’ and trumpeting the famous Vuvuzelas.
Some merry making youths were seen approaching Mass Media complex and upon arrival at the main gate were restrained from entering by police who were manning the gate as they were in their numbers.
However, this did not deter them from continuing with their celebrations outside the complex’s premises where they remained for a couple of hours before heading to Arcades.
A check by a ZANIS crew in Kalingalinga, Chilenje, Rhodes Park, and Kabulonga among other places in the city also found people from all walks of life celebrating.
Those talked to were happy that PF had won the elections and that their prayer had been answered.
One resident from Chilenje, Mutale Wesu congratulated Mr Sata and the entire candidates who stood on the PF ticket for convincingly winning the elections.
Mr. Wesu hoped the new PF government would build on what the former administration the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) had done.
Another resident, Jane Daka of Kalingalinga Township prodded the incoming PF government to seriously look into the plight of youths whom she said had been marginalised for a long time.
Ms Daka told ZANIS that the youths contributed immensely to the PF victory hence the need for the new government to address challenges facing the youth such as unemployment, drug abuse and diseases.
Mario Mukumbuta of Rhodes Park appealed to the President-elect not to be vengeful but forgive all those that had unjustly accused him.
Meanwhile, scores of Chawama residents have received the news of victory of the incoming President with great joy.
The residents came out of their houses onto the streets to celebrate Mr. Sata’s victory as fifth republican President of Zambia since the country’s political independence in 1964.
The residents expressed happiness that their verdict had been passed peacefully through the ballot paper.
Adamson Phiri said people’s cry of a responsive Government that would look after the welfare of ordinary Zambians had been heard.
Mr. Phiri paid tribute to outgoing President Rupiah Banda who has been Head of State since the demise of third republican President Dr Levy Mwanawasa in 2008.
In Serenje distict,hundreds of residents thronged the streets and gathered at Serenje District Commissioner’s office to celebrate the election of Mr. Sata as President-elect.
The residents also carried shoulder high newly elected PF Serenje Central Member of Parliament Phillip Kosamu.
ZANIS reports that the residents who were also in a convoy of over 30 motor vehicles honked and horned as they went round chanting the PF’s political campaign slogan “Pa Bwato and Don’t Kubeba”.
A resident Nancy Kunda described Mr. Sata’s victory as a blessing to the country and wished him well in his endeavours.
Ms. Kunda further described the outcome of the result as a true reflection of the will of the Zambian people.
The 2011 presidential polls were the second heavily contested with ten candidates after the 2006 presidential elections which attracted a record 11 presidential contestants.
The MMD has ruled Zambia for the past 20 years and it ushered in among several other developments democracy, freedom of Speech and liberalised the country’s economy.
Others who contested the tripartite elections are Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) who polled 489, 944 representing 18.5 percent, Charles Milupi of the Alliance for Democracy and Development who got 13, 382 representing 0.8 percent while National Restoration Party (NAREP) leader Elias Chipimo polled 10, 190 representing 0.4 percent.
UNIP’s Tilyenji Kaunda who polled 9, 713 (0.4%) was also among the contenders including , FDD’s Edith Nawakwi the only female contestant who polled 6, 627 (0.3%), Ngandu Magande of the National Movement for Progress (NMP) with 6, 097 (0.2%), Heritage Party leader Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda who polled 4, 358 (0.2%) and the Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) is at the bottom of the table with a paltry 2, 191 votes representing 0.1 percent.
ZANIS
