Zambians are voting in local elections seen as a test of public support for the democratically elected government of President Chiluba.

Early turn-out was reported to be low.

One opposition politician Nevers Mumba, of the National Citizens' Coalition told the BBC that the electoral register used for the poll was weighted against the opposition.

But he said he believed the opposition could still do well, enabling it to start to reverse the trend of Zambian politics.

President Chiluba and his MMD party swept to power in 1991 in Zambia's first multiparty elections -- the MMD won the local elections a year later.

Results from today's voting are expected at the weekend.