Zambia: Cadres Riot Over Suspect Contraband

Posted to the web 29 October 2008 Edward Mulenga United Party for National Development (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) supporters in Livingstone yesterday rioted, stoning a police vehicle after authorities refused to yield to allow them to physically inspect the contents of two trucks they suspected to be carrying ballot papers. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) yesterday said that the two trucks were carrying lamps and batteries and not ballot papers as suspected by the residents and called for calm. ECZ public relations manager, Cris Akufuna, said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday the batteries and lamps were scheduled to be used in tomorrow's elections and delaying them had a negative impact on the preparations. This is the third time within a week that cadres are impounding vehicles suspected to be carrying ballot... [read full story]