Elections to test Zambia's standing as a stable democracy

Zambia’s standing as one of Africa’s most stable democracies is being tested this week in the vote in which President Edgar Lungu is seeking re-election

LUSAKA, Zambia -- Zambia's standing as one of Africa's most stable democracies is being tested this week in the vote in which President Edgar Lungu is seeking re-election. A tight race is expected and some analysts say the presidential poll may provoke a political crisis in the southern African country. Lungu's detractors say he has systematically restricted democratic freedoms by closing some media outlets, detaining opposition politicians and targeting critics. His rule has taken Africa’s second-largest copper producer to “the brink of a human rights crisis,” Human Rights Watch alleged in June. Violence flared up in recent weeks, particularly between supporters of the two main parties, prompting Lungu to deploy the military. Lungu says the troops are to maintain order but the opposition argues that the soldiers are to intimidate voters.