Opposition candidate, Michael Sata, has taken an early lead as vote counting continues in Zambia's presidential elections held on 28 September.

According to preliminary results from polling stations where counting has been done, Sata was leading in the heavily populated provinces of Lusaka, Copperbelt, Northern, Luapula, Eastern as well as in Central Province, the home area of incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa.

Sata was also leading Hakainde Hichilema of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the party's stronghold of Southern Province.

Only five parties fielded presidential candidates. The other two candidates are Heritage Party's Godfrey Miyanda, and All People's Congress' Winright Ngondo.

President Mwanawasa, who contested the polls on a Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) ticket, is seeking a second term of office after assuming power from Frederick Chiluba in 2001.

If Sata maintains his lead, this will be the first time in Zambian history that a sitting president has ever lost an election after serving a single term in office.

(sardc.net)

Southern African News Features offers a reliable source of regional information and analysis on the Southern African Development Community, and is provided as a service to the SADC region.

This article may be reproduced with credit to the author and publisher.

SANF is produced by the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC), which has monitored regional developments since 1985