Rupiah Banda to lead election observer mission to DRC

Immediate past president Rupiah Banda (pictured), has been appointed to lead an election observer mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Banda has accepted to co-lead the mission with former U.S., president Jimmy Carter.

But new Zambia President, Michael Sata says the government of Zambia, will not foot the bill of former President Rupiah Banda’s aides and others like security personal.

A Zambia administration spokesperson said: “Since the invitation is to Mr Banda as an individual, the government has difficulties in spending taxpayers’ money on other people he would want to accompany him on this purely exclusive invitation”.

The Congolese will go the polls to vote a new president on November 28, 2011.