daniel chigunwe
LUSAKA. —Following a high turnout in Thursday’s vote, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) was still counting votes with final results expected today.
The election pitted main rivals, opposition candidate Mr Hakainde Hichilema and incumbent President Edgar Lungu.
Although Hichilema had an early lead of about 500 000 votes, EZC seemed to suggest that the lead was inconclusive until the final vote.
Both the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party and main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) claim their respective candidates are in the lead, citing their own tabulations.
Thursday’s vote saw sporadic clashes and troop reinforcements in three provinces after two deaths were reported on election day, including a ruling party chairman.
President Lungu on Saturday said the violence, which was concentrated in UPND strongholds, rendered the election unfair.
“With polling agents having been attacked and chased from polling stations, we were reduced to competing in seven (out of ten) provinces,” he said in a statement.
Hichilema described the statement as the “desperate final act of an outgoing administration”.
Backed by an alliance of 10 opposition parties, Mr Hichilema is challenging President Lungu for the third time.
Scuffles occurred at several polling stations after people were accused of carrying pre-marked ballot papers, which the ECZ has denied.
The head of the African Union Observer Mission head, Mr Ernest Bai Koroma said on Saturday that voting “operations were conducted in a peaceful, transparent and professional manner”.
Social media access had been throttled in Lusaka just before Mr Hichilema cast his vote. It was fully restored on Saturday following a high court order. — Online.
Online Reporter