His successor, former labor leader Frederick Chiluba, left office voluntarily though under a cloud, accused of corruption and abusing the political process.

FORBES: Democracy Is Under Challenge In Zambia

Mr Mwanawasa famously fell out with his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba, who had handpicked him to lead the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy.

BBC: Zambia's president dies in France

There, on Christmas day, the current president, Frederick Chiluba, who on his election in 1991 was hailed as a fine democrat, threw into jail his once autocratic but now elderly predecessor, Kenneth Kaunda.

ECONOMIST: Africa��s democratic despots

The effect of voter apathy on this year's poll will be compounded by the decision of outgoing President Frederick Chiluba to hold elections on 27 December, right in the middle of the rainy and Christmas seasons.

BBC: Zambia's reformed bus touts