Funeral and Elections

A couple of months ago, President Mwanawasa had a serious stroke and was taken to a hospital in Paris.  After several weeks of rumors about his condition, he died.  This is the national week of mourning.  Wednesday is a National Holiday, the day of the funeral and burial. 

Here in Zambia power is not automatically transferred to the vice president.  Sometimes that is true, but at other times an election is called to elect someone to finish the 5 year term remaining.  So there is much talk here about who will run from the various parties and who might be in a position to win.  There are prayer meetings being held about this matter.  The other night there was all night prayer in Liteta for the Mwanawasa family and for the election.  It is interesting to talk to people about who they think believe will run and who will win.

One potential candidate would be very bad.  He has said he would follow Mugabe's lead, the president in Zimbabwe who has destroyed that country.  So just as people are praying about the election in the United States, so many people are praying for the elections in Zambia.