CHEERING UNIP SUPPORTERS AT HIGH COURT; KAUNDA ARRIVES; MR JUSTICE BLAGDEN WAITS; KAUNDA ACKNOWLEDGES SUPPORTERS; NKUMBULA GREETED BY BLAGDEN; NKUMBULA SIGNS PAPER.




Initials LH/VS/JF/ES



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Background: PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA, LEADER OF ZAMBIA'S RULING UNITED NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY, AND MR HARRY NKUMBULA, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 16) LODGED THEIR NOMINATIONS FOR NEXT MONTH'S ZAMBIA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. WATCHED BY HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS OF EACH PARTY, THEY PRESENTED THEIR PAPERS TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE, MR J.BLAGDEN, AT THE HIGH COURT IN LUSAKA.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS BEING HELD AT THE SAME TIME AS ZAMBIANS VOTE IN A GENERAL ELECTION ON DECEMBER 19. BOTH CANDIDATES, WHO ARRIVED SEPARATELY, APPEALED TO THEIR SUPPORTERS FOR A PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN. MR KAUNDA'S PAPER WAS SIGNED BY 2300 UNIP SUPPORTERS.

THE FOLLOWERS WHO CHEERED DR KAUNDA AT THE HIGH COURT LATER GATHERED IN A MASS RALLY IN LUSAKA, WHICH WAS SEEN AS THE OFFICIAL START TO THE PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN TO RETAIN OFFICE. AN ELECTION FUND DINNER WAS HELD FOR PRESIDENT KAUNDA AT LUSAKA'S CHARTER BALL ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

HE YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) STRONGLY CRITICISED THE STANDARD OF ZAMBIA'S CIVIL SERVICE, AND WARNED OF STRONG MEASURES TO REMEDY THIS FAULT IN FUTURE.

MEANWHILE, MR NKUMBULA HAS SAID THAT THE ANC WILL FIELD CANDIDATES IN ALL 109 CONSTITUENCIES NEXT MONTH AND THE PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WAS WELL ADVANCED.