( CNN ) -- Zambia 's incumbent president bowed out with `` grace and honor '' Friday after election results showed his main challenger had won , his party said in a statement . `` The people of Zambia have spoken and we must listen , '' outgoing President Rupiah Banda said on the website of his Movement for Multiparty Democracy . `` The time now is for maturity , for composure and for compassion . '' Zambians voted Tuesday in the presidential election . The incoming president , Michael Sata , will be sworn in Friday , party officials said . Sata is the leader of the opposition Patriotic Front and a major critic of China 's investment in the nation . Ten candidates took part in the presidential race . Zambia has remained relatively peaceful amid unrest in neighboring Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
10 candidates took part in the presidential race . Senator Michael Sata is a major critic of Chinese investment in the nation .