ZAMBIA:ZAMBIA'S first lady has expressed concern over possible divisions in the ruling party and said her late husband wanted finance minister Ng'andu Magande to succeed him, a local newspaper reported yesterday.
Sixteen candidates are jostling to succeed President Levy Mwanawasa who died in Paris on August 19th, and a presidential election will be held in November.
Analysts say the high number of presidential hopefuls may be a sign of deep divisions in the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy. The party will select a candidate on September 5th,
The Post newspaper quoted Mwanawasa's widow as saying that the late leader had told her shortly before he died that he preferred Mr Magande to succeed him after his second and final five-year term in 2011, and that the cabinet was aware of his wishes.
"He knew that he had strengths and weaknesses, but the strengths outweighed the weaknesses," she told the Post in an interview.
Mr Magande and vice president Rupiah Banda, who is now acting president, have emerged as the strongest contenders.
Information minister Mike Mulongoti said Mr Mwanawasa had wanted an honest man who is a good manager, but his other criteria did not fit Mr Magande.
"I do not think the president's description of his successor in our last cabinet meeting fits Mr Magande. He told us he wanted somebody he could be calling [ a young man] and this description disqualifies Magande on account of age. Mr Magande is 61 years old and the president was going to be 60, so how could he start calling Mr Magande [ a young man]," said Mr Mulongoti, who has openly backed 72-year-old Mr Banda for the top post. - (Reuters)