News / Africa
Zambia sets election date
04 Jan 2016 at 13:46hrs | Views
Zambia's presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on 11 August under a new constitution, a government spokesman said, Reuters news agency reports.
"The new constitution has a fixed election date and that will take effect as soon as the president signs," Amos Chanda said.
President Edgar Lungu is expected to sign the constitutional amendments into law on Tuesday.
The elections are expected to be tight contest between Mr Lungu's governing Patriotic Front (PF) party and Hakainde Hichilema's opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Other amendments include a clause requiring a winning presidential candidate to get more than 50% of the votes cast, Mr Chanda said.
Mr Lungu took office a year ago in elections held after the death of then-President Michael Sata.
"The new constitution has a fixed election date and that will take effect as soon as the president signs," Amos Chanda said.
President Edgar Lungu is expected to sign the constitutional amendments into law on Tuesday.
Other amendments include a clause requiring a winning presidential candidate to get more than 50% of the votes cast, Mr Chanda said.
Mr Lungu took office a year ago in elections held after the death of then-President Michael Sata.
Source - BBC
