"I have the honor to announce that the program of conducting presidential by-election has been finally established," Banda said in a televised speech, "The presidential by-election shall therefore be held on Thursday, 30thOctober 2008."
In his national speech, Banda appealed to Zambians to remain calm, peaceful and united during the pre-election period. He also urged political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns in a clean and dignified manner.
The new president is to complete the remainder of Mwanawasa's term before running for a second term of five years in 2011.
President Mwanawasa, 59, who won re-election in the 2006 general elections, died in Paris on August 19 after suffering a stroke.
Under the Zambian constitution, emergency elections must be called within 90 days from the date of the presidential office becoming vacant.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia had presented a budget of 240 billion kwacha (75 million U.S. dollars) for preparation of the presidential by-election, and it has assured Zambians of a free and fair race, local media reported.
The commission had also started delivering election materials and, so far, more than six provinces had received them.
The United Nations Development Programme has pledged 11.5 million U.S. dollars for the forthcoming presidential by-elections as well.
At least three parties, namely the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and two opposition parties, the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF), have tossed their hats into the race for the presidency.
Acting President Banda was elected as MMD presidential candidate last Friday while the UPND fielded its leader Hakainde Hichilema and the PF chose its president Michael Sata for the by-election.
Opposition United Liberal Party and the All People's Congress will not take part in the elections but would instead support the ruling MMD, according to media reports.
The presidential election in Zambia takes place every five years since the re-introduction of multi-party mechanism in the country in 1991. The latest one was held in 2006.
