50 percent-plus-one Rule

Zambian government said the 50 percent-plus-one rule for winning presidency will not apply in this year's tripartite election, The Post reported Monday.

Information Minister Vernon Mwaanga was quoted as saying 'the 50 percent-plus-one is a constitutional matter. It will be dealt with under the constitutional reforms. It is not feasible to implement it this year because it is a constitutional matter.'

The current constitution allows the victor in the presidential election to be declared via a simple majority vote rather than the 50 percent-plus-one proposed by a panel appointed by President Levy Mwanawasa and backed by opposition parties.

Mwanawasa has said that the 2006 general elections will be held under the current constitution.