Zambia sets 2016 election date, scraps power price hike

LUSAKA—Zambia’s new Constitution yesterday set August 11 as the date for the five-yearly presidential and parliamentary elections, previously set by the president, lining up another close vote after last year’s neck-and-neck race.

Also, Zambian President Edgar Lungu, who plans to stand in the election, reversed a sharp increase in electricity tariffs, saying the hike had ended up hurting the poor, presidential spokesman, Amos Chanda said yesterday.

Lungu, who is due to ratify the constitutional amendments today, defeated the opposition United Party for National Development’s Hakainde Hichilema last January.

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