voa标准英语2008年-Zambian Opposition Candidate Leads in Early Ret

Early returns from the presidential election in Zambia indicate opposition¹ leader Michael Sata is ahead with 44 percent of the vote while Acting² President Rupiah Banda trails with 34 percent. But observers say that with results in from nearly one-half of the constituencies, the lead could change. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from our bureau in Dakar.
　

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

Zambian election officials said vote tabulation³ was going normally and Thursday's elections had been quiet and orderly.

The head of a monitoring delegation⁴ from the Electoral Institute for Southern Africa, Leshele Thoahlane, said voter turnout, however, appeared to have been low, possibly less than 50 percent.

"Generally there was a pretty low turnout and we really were not able to establish what could have been [the cause of] that," he said.

The elections were called two years early after the sudden death of the late President Levy⁵ Mwanawasa from a stroke.

By law the vote had to be organized within 90 days. Analysts⁶ say as a result there may not have been enough time to raise voter interest among the general public.

Observer Thoahlane also notes that this was a by-election. "And normally in by-elections you really don't get that kind of degree of enthusiasm that you find when you're at the beginning of the normal polling or general elections," he said.

In addition, the winner will serve only two years, the time remaining in Mr. Mwanawasa's term.
　

Zambia's main opposition leader of the Patriotic7 Front, Michael Sata talks to the media after casting his vote in Lusaka, 30 Oct 2008

Acting President Rupiah Banda, who was Mr. Mwanawasa's vice-president, was the candidate of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy. He ran against veteran opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front and candidates from two smaller parties.

Opposition leaders ahead of the vote accused the ruling party of seeking to rig the election. But the electoral commission pledged it would be free and fair.

Protests followed the previous elections but the results eventually were upheld.

Security officials said Zambian forces were on alert to prevent any post-election violence.

1 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。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 tabulation   

作表，表格； 表列结果； 列表； 造表

参考例句：

• A tabulation of a function of two variables is cumbersome, but possible. 二元函数的列表法是不方便的，然而是可能的。
• Such a tabulation cannot represent adequately the complex gradation relationships between the types. 这样的图表不能充分代表各类型之间的复杂级配关系。

4 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

5 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。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。