Bid for ballot recount fails in Zambia

A Zambian high court judge today ruled that the country’s new president can be declared and inaugurated, rejecting opposition claims that the ruling party rigged the vote.

The move paved the way for ruling party candidate Levy Mwanawasa to take power. According to projected election results, he holds a narrow lead over opposition contender Anderson Mazoka.

High Court Judge Peter Chitengi ruled that the petition filed by seven opposition parties was ‘‘premature’’ and that the high court could not bar the government from declaring a winner.

However, Chitengi said the opposition could contest the election result after the new president was sworn in.

There was no immediate comment from the opposition party leaders who were meeting to discuss their next move. They claim the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy stuffed ballot boxes and tampered with vote counting.

Noting clashes between opposition supporters and police yesterday in the normally peaceful capital of Lusaka, Chitengi said the rule of law must prevail. Police today sealed off entrances into central Lusaka from the outlying townships where many opposition supporters live.

Large numbers of police also surrounded the high court building where the official announcement of a winner and the inauguration ceremony are scheduled to take place today.

Thousands marched on the building yesterday chanting ‘‘We Want Change’’ in protest against of the projected results that gave Mwanawasa a narrow victory.

According to returns from all but five of the 150 voting districts, Mwanawasa was leading Mazoka by about 36,000 votes - about 29% of the vote.

Mazoka, a political newcomer, has already declared himself president. He said he would reject any outcome that did not name him the winner.

Christon Tembo, a former army commander who heads the Forum for Democracy and Development, said the opposition would pursue recourse both in the streets and through the courts.

‘‘We have been left with no choice but to mobilise our people throughout the country and intensify protests until we bring sense to the new government which wants to install itself shamelessly,’’ he said.