Why Banda lost Zambian elections

Former president Rupiah Banda, 74, conceded defeat last week after the September 20 general election, igniting several questions.  What contributed to his downfall? Was he the right candidate after the death of the country's third president Levy Mwanawasa? Was he supposed to stand on the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) ticket in this year's elections?

To start with, Banda is a man who became head of state by default.  Mwanawasa brought him in as vice president after then office bearer Lupando Mwape was defeated by a PF rival in his constituency in the Northern Province in the 2006 general elections.