By Shapi Shacinda

LUSAKA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Zambians head to the polls on Thursday to elect a president to lead one of Africa's most stable and economically successful countries.

Whoever wins will face the formidable task of matching late president Levy Mwanawasa's strong track record of fiscal discipline, praised by Western donors, and of cracking down on corruption, both rare successes on the continent.

Acting President Rupiah Banda, a prominent businessman with wide government experience, has campaigned as a steady hand who can keep Mwanawasa's business-friendly policies going.

But the only published opinion poll, released by the African market information group Steadman, gives him only 32 percent support compared to 46 percent for Michael Sata, leader of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF).

Sata, popularly known as "King Cobra" for his political manoeuvring, was previously national secretary of Banda's ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD).

Both candidates have vowed to take on huge challenges facing the southern African country, but neither is likely to transform the political landscape in the short term, analysts say.

Sixty-five percent of Zambia's 12 million people live on less than $1 a day. More than a million are HIV-positive and about 370,000 are in need of antiretroviral therapy.

During a rally shown live on state television on Wednesday, Banda said he would run an all-inclusive government that would promote direct foreign investment, including in copper mines, the country's economic lifeblood.

Sata portrays himself as a champion of the poor, and has been drawing big crowds in rural areas, suggesting his party has expanded its support beyond its traditional base among labourers in Zambia's Copperbelt region and the capital Lusaka. Zambia is the world's 10th largest copper producer.

Sata held his last rally at a soccer stadium, sandwiched between a plush suburb and an impoverished township, east of Lusaka.

"You should vote for me so that you can liberate yourselves economically," Sata told a rally to chants of "we want change".

The vote may also be a test of Zambia's commitment to multi-party democracy, only restored in 1990 after 18 years of one-party rule under Kenneth Kaunda.

Zambia's army chief warned on Wednesday that violence would not be tolerated over the election.

A senior intelligence official said soldiers would be placed on high alert after voting closes at 1600 GMT to prevent any violence ahead of results expected on Friday night. (Additional reporting by Lewis Nyirenda; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Giles Elgood)

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