The King Cobra triumphs -- at last

For the 74-year-old leader of the Zambian Patriotic Front (PF), Michael Sata, also known as King Cobra for his sharp tongue, it was sweet victory on his fourth attemp tto win the presidential race against his old enemy and incumbent president, Rupiah Banda in an election that was conducted relatively peacefully, resulting in the international observers declaring the process transparent, free and fair.

Election result

In a hotly contested election Sata came out tops with 43% of the vote against the 36.1% for Banda. The result was expected to be a close affair and the 7% victory margin therefore is remarkable.

It is generally agreed that Sata’s victory was brought about by many of the 60% of Zambians living on less than US$2 a day and most of the more than a million new young voters who were voting  for the first time opting for King Cobra who promised to improve their lives and living conditions.

A typical Zambian election

In typical Zambian tradition the tripartite election of 20 September 2011 to elect a president, 150 members of parliament and local representatives, was similar to previous elections, conducted relatively peacefully and resulting in the international observers  declaring the process transparent, free and fair.

Incidents of unrest and violence did flare up in some of Lusaka’s slums areas and some towns on the Copperbelt, a PF stronghold, when PF and Sata supporters lost patience with the slow pace in which election results were released, claiming it was an MMD ploy to try and rig the outcome.

The concern later proved to be unwarranted as the delay was the result of the Zambian Electorate Commission’s website being hacked.

To their credit the Zambian police responded in a truly professional and unbiased manner. Although two persons lost their lives, the police quickly took control to prevent more serious damage and spreading of the unrest.

The Zambian Police played a major part to prove that proper and peaceful elections are indeed possible in Africa and that the election chaos in Kenya, Cote d’ Ivoire and Nigeria should not be the norm.

It is also not impossible that the developments in North Africa, where people decided to remove long-time rulers who failed in improving the living conditions of their people, also contributed to regime change in Zambia.

After two decades in power the MMD were unable to convince the majority of the electorate to give them another term. The hunger for change tilted the balance in Sata’s favour.

End of an era

Following in the footsteps of Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda, when defeated by Frederick Chiluba and the MMD after 27 years in power, President Banda in accepting defeat said he respected the decision of the Zambian people and asked his followers to do the same.

President Banda was widely acclaimed for the gracious manner in which he accepted defeat and many observers agreed that he proved that there are true democrats in Africa and that the chaos that followed after elections held in Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria should not be seen as the norm. It is also hoped that the message will reach next-door neighbour, Zimbabwe.

After 20 years in power the MMD lost control because, as President Banda admitted, complacency set in and too little was done despite a healthy economy based on a good copper price, to improve the lives of ordinary Zambians.

A new man is at the helm now and only time will tell if he can improve where his predecessor failed.

Who is Michael Sata?

In Zambia he is a household name and opinions differ from total admiration to complete rejection.

Michael Sata is however, an example that perseverance can prevail.

The new Zambian president boasts an illustrious career.

After a modest upbringing Sata worked as a railwayman, a trade unionist and was a policeman when Zambia became independent from Britain in 1964. He later went into business as a consultant on property and other deals.

He started his political career as municipal councillor and served as governor of Lusaka under PresidentKenneth Kaunda.

In 1991 Sata resigned from Kaunda’s ruling United National Independence Party (UNIP) to join Frederick Chiluba's newly formed MMD. He became an influential member and served in different portfolios as minister  of local government, labour, and health and built up a reputation as someone who “gets things done.”

Abrasive, forthright and gruff, Sata soon had many enemies and President Chiluba eventually appointed Sata as Mmnister without portfolio and the MMD's national organising secretary, a prestigious post carrying a lot of power and influence.

Sata parted ways with the MMD in 2001 when Levy Mwanawasa was preferred to him as the party’s presidential candidate to replace President Chiluba.

He formed his own party, the Patriotic Front, and contested the 2001 presidential election.  He failed dismally with  less than 4% of the vote. In the 2006 presidential election Sata increased his support to 29% and in 2008 lost narrowly to President Banda. He always maintained that the election was fixed.

Challenges ahead

In every election voters are enticed with promises of a better life.

The Zambian election was no exception – it was the main slogan of every party contesting – with Sata promising the electorate that if he was elected they would   ”have money in the pocket”.

With Sata knowing that this was his last chance he almost seemed obsessive and also annoyed that the presidency has kept eluding him all the years.

Many will argue it is his obsessiveness that drove him and inspired him to try one last time.

Focusing on the discontent of the average Zambian and promising them that he will improve their lives, their education, create jobs, eradicate corruption, stop foreign, (especially Chinese) exploitation and regulate the mining sector to the benefit of the Zambian people, Sata earned the key to State House.

The jubilation of the victory is tempered by concern that the new president and his government are going to find it extremely difficult to deliver on their election promises and that expectations are too high.

Sata promised the Zambian electorate he will change the country and improvements will be there for all to see within 90 days of taking office.

Sata is no stranger to controversial and contradictory statements, it has been his trademark during his long political career and there is no reason to believe it will change.

During his election campaign Sata’s strong criticism of the activities of foreign mining companies especially the Chinese, became a much talked about and contentious issue.

China with US$ 2 billion already invested and with promises of more to come, is by far Zambia’s biggest business partner. China, despite attempts to appease the new Zambian president, must be unnerved by Sata's past accusations and harsh criticism.

Sata also said he will re-introduce a windfall tax for foreign mining companies, a tax his predecessor removed.

Foreign investors and mining companies are apprehensive and their nervousness caused the Zambian currency, the kwacha, to slide to a 14-month low in reaction to Sata's victory.

In the final weeks of the election campaign Sata toned down his anti-Chinese rhetoric and in his first speech as president he dispelled concerns that he plans to go after Chinese investors, saying he would work to attract foreign investment.

Sata likewise said he would not introduce a minerals windfall tax but would look at some form of capital control to keep more profit in Zambia to bankroll his ambitious plans for the country.

For President Sata to deliver on his election promises he will have to excel. He will have to balance political ambitions with economic realities-no easy challenge.