| Violent protests erupt in the north-central city of Kitwe |
| 14 Nov 2008 |
| Violent protests erupted in the north-central city of Kitwe on 13 November 2008 after authorities arrested a Roman Catholic priest for broadcasting allegedly incendiary reports about the country's recent presidential election on a local radio station. Although international election observers reported that the election of Rupiah Banda of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) reflected the will of the people, the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has contested the results and has demanded a recount; Kitwe is a known opposition-stronghold. Anti-riot police officers used tear gas to disperse hundreds of PF supporters who torched vehicles, blocked roads in the city and looted stores; all businesses in the city closed down during the riots. Although no injuries were reported, at least 38 protesters were arrested. The PF had also planned to hold another protest in Kitwe on 15 November to protest Banda's victory, but police officials withdrew the permit after the riot. It is unclear if the PF supporters will still hold the protest without the permit.
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| Polling to elect Zambia's new president begins |
| 30 Oct 2008 |
| Polling to elect Zambia's new president began on 30 October 2008. Polling stations throughout the country opened at 0600 local time (0400 UTC) with police officers and soldiers on alert to prevent any violence after the opposition parties accused the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) of voter fraud; polling centers are scheduled to close at 1800 local time (1600 UTC). The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) stated that it will start counting the results immediately after the polls close and that it will begin announcing the election's results by 31 October. The election will replace the late Levy Mwanawasa, who died from a stroke in September 2008.
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| Security forces on high alert ahead of the presidential election |
| 29 Oct 2008 |
| Zambian security forces went on high alert on 29 October 2008 ahead of the presidential election on 30 October. Authorities increased security for fear of widespread violence after the opposition parties stated earlier in the week that they will not accept the election's results if the ruling party wins. Tensions have been high in Zambia since the opposition claimed to have discovered a plot to rig the elections in favor of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate Rupiah Banda. Zambian police officers have broken up three protests in the past week where angry opposition supporters surrounded trucks that they claimed were carrying pre-marked ballots. Banda has denied all accusations of voter fraud and has stated that he will accept the results even if he loses.
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| WHO - New virus from Arenaviridae family |
| 15 Oct 2008 |
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| Zambia will hold a presidential election to officially replace former President Levy Mwanawasa on 30 October |
| 10 Sep 2008 |
| Acting President Rupiah Banda announced on 9 September 2008 that Zambia will hold a presidential election to officially replace former President Levy Mwanawasa on 30 October. Mwanawasa died on 19 August in a French military hospital after suffering a stroke while attending the African Union summit in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, on 29 June. According to the Zambian Constitution, a presidential election must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant. Banda will run in the election as the Movement for Multi-party Democracy candidate (MMD), but he is expected to face a stiff challenge from the opposition parties -- the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development -- both of which fielded competitive candidates in the 2006 presidential election.
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| Public holiday declared for 3rd September will close businesses & transport |
| 26 Aug 2008 |
| Reports on 26 August 2008 announced that acting-President Rupiah Banda has declared 3 September as a public holiday in honor of the late President Levy Mwanawasa's contributions to Zambia. The date coincides with Mwanawasa's scheduled burial day. All businesses will be closed on this day, and transportation services will likely also be affected. Additionally, Banda announced that Mwanawasa's burial venue has been changed to Embassy Park, located opposite the Government Secretariat in Lusaka. Traffic will likely be significantly disrupted in this area, and visitors should plan alternate routes around this location to avoid delays. Mwanawasa was supposed to have been buried at his private Palabana Farm, but high public demand to bury the president in a public location prompted the change of site.
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| Zambian President Mwanawasa dies |
| 19 Aug 2008 |
| Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa died on the morning of 19 August 2008 in a French hospital. Mwanawasa had suffered a mild stroke in June and underwent emergency surgery on 18 August following a worsening of his condition. Vice President Rupiah Banda, who has been the interim head of state since Mwanawasa's stroke, will take the post of acting president until a new election is held. A seven-day national mourning period has been called.
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