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A hard act to follow

The death of Zambia’s president means that, not even two years since the last polls, there will be a presidential election before the end of the year. This has revealed deep splits in the governing party and disorganisation in the opposition. At stake is Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy of economic growth, fighting corruption and speaking out on regional issues.

After his death last month, President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa continued to dominate Zambian politics as his coffin toured the country for a week. The extended countrywide funeral procession looked a lot like a campaign tour for the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), which hopes for a powerful sympathy vote in the forthcoming elections to choose a replacement head of state. These must be held by mid-November....

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A hard act to follow

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