VOA标准英语10月-Zambians Head to Polls to Choose Successor to Lat

Zambians went to the polls Thursday to elect a president following the untimely death of former President Levy¹ Mwanawasa. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our bureau in Dakar.
　

Levy Mwanawasa (file photo)

Voters in Zambia turned out early Thursday to choose their next president with memories still fresh of the sudden death from a stroke last August of the late-president Levy Mwanawasa.

Reporter Richard Malonga visited several polling stations and said the balloting³ was orderly.

"The voting here started quite well, quiet," he said. "The polling stations opened at 6 am but at some stations people started queuing up as early as 0400 because people wanted to be the early bird [to cast their votes]."

Interim⁴ President Rupiah Banda, who was Mr. Mwanawasa's vice⁵ president, campaigned pledging to continue the late-president's pro-business and corruption-fighting policies.

Student Emanuel Biyela, speaking by telephone from a polling station in Lusaka, said many voters want continuity.

"Most of the people want their taxes to be lowered and more jobs to be created, and above all for the agricultural sector⁶ to be improved," he said.

Opposition⁷ leader Michael Sata, who was narrowly defeated in the last elections two years ago, campaigned as a champion of the poor. Two other candidates, businessman Hakainde Hichilema and retired⁸ army general Godfrey Miyanda, also campaigned on a platform of change.
　

Josephine Kabaso

Josephine Kabaso, who is raising three children on the wages of a domestic worker, said workers' salaries need to be raised.

"We want change," she said. "We need change because we have got children and the children they will be the future leaders."

She noted⁹ that Mr. Mwanawasa's government made primary education free. But she said two of her children are in secondary school and their fees are higher than her salary.

Mr. Mwanawasa's government reduced inflation and raised economic growth to five percent a year. But businessman Morgan Kaseba says many voters are looking for new ideas.

"Right now most of the people seem to be poor," he said. "There are no jobs. The investment that is said by the government to have been brought in, no one is actually feeling the impact. It's not trickling¹⁰ down to the poor. So people need to be assured that whoever comes will definitely brings the economic power to their pockets."
　

A Zambian woman carrying her daughter on her back casts a vote at a school in Lusaka, 30 Oct 2008

Nearly four million people were registered to vote. Members of the opposition complained that 600,000 extra ballot² papers were printed that could be used to rig the results.

But Zambia's Independent Election Commission said everything was being done to ensure a free and fair vote.

Protests followed the previous elections which the opposition said were rigged in favor of the ruling party. However, the results eventually were upheld.

1 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 balloting   

v.（使）投票表决( ballot的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clark took a commanding leading in the early balloting. 在最初投票时，克拉克遥遥领先。 来自辞典例句
• The balloting had stagnated, he couldn't win. 投票工作陷于停顿，他不能得胜。 来自辞典例句

4 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 trickling   

n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动

参考例句：

• Tears were trickling down her cheeks. 眼泪顺着她的面颊流了下来。
• The engine was trickling oil. 发动机在滴油。 来自《简明英汉词典》