Zambia's ruling party has endorsed President Rupiah Banda as its candidate in 2011 elections, as he strengthens his grip on a party that once saw him as an outsider.
Zambian opposition leaders have called for early presidential and parliamentary elections in a bid to end what they call massive suffering of citizens in the country.
A Zambian official has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to the theft of $5m from the health ministry, in a scandal that has already seen foreign aid frozen.
President Rupiah Banda has indicated that he will run for re-election in the country's next elections, the state-run Zambia Daily Mail reports.
Zambia's opposition leader Michael Sata has declared that he will contest the next presidential and parliamentary elections.