EU calls for calm in Zambia ahead of presidential petition ruling

The European Union (EU) on Friday appealed for calm in Zambia ahead of an anticipated court ruling on a presidential petition filed by the main opposition party challenging the results of last month's general elections.

The EU said it had been following closely the developments in Zambia after the August 11 polls which have been characterized by rising tension and incidents of violence.

"All stakeholders, in particular the two main political parties, should engage in dialogue and reconciliation and await calmly the outcome of the complaints and appeals process," an EU spokesperson said in a statement posted on its website.

The Constitutional Court is expected to make a ruling on Friday on a petition filed by main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema on the re-election of President Edgar Lungu.

The opposition leader filed the petition on August 19 and the court was expected to make a ruling within 14 days after the filing.

The opposition party failed in its bid to take the matter to the High Court for interpretation of the 14 days since the court spent most of the time hearing preliminary issues raised by both the defense and the petitioners.

On Thursday, the Constitutional Court ruled that it would hear and conclude the matter on Friday, because it had no powers to extend the 14-day ultimatum.

Lungu was declared winner of the August 11 polls after polling 50.35 percent of the votes while the opposition leader polled 47 percent in a tightly contested race.

However, violence flared up in some parts of the country after Lungu was declared winner and there have been fears that violence could erupt after the court ruling.

The last time a presidential election was petitioned in Zambia was in 2001 when opposition leaders challenged the election of late President Levy Mwanawasa. Endit