20110311
reuters

LUSAKA (Reuters) - An alliance between Zambia's two largest opposition parties collapsed on Friday, increasing President Rupiah Banda's chances of winning elections later this year.

In 2009, the Patriotic Front (PF) party and the United Party for National Development (UPND) agreed to field one presidential candidate against Banda's ruling party, in power since 1991.

But differences emerged between the two parties over the choice of the presidential candidate.

"I am here today to tell the nation that the pact has come to an end," Richard Kapita, UPND vice-president told a news conference.

The alliance between the two parties would have presented a strong challenge to Banda, who said on Tuesday he was confident of winning the election.

Banda would not commit to a date for the election but said economic growth of 7 percent last year and the same expected this year gives his party the advantage in Africa's biggest copper producer.

"The political threat that was imminent does not appear to exist any more," political analyst Lee Habasonda of the University of Zambia said. "This is very disappointing and a blow to the growth of Zambia's democracy because neither the PF nor the UPND can win the elections alone."