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Zambia Opposition Leads Early Vote Count, Sitting President Cries Foul

  Zambia’s main opposition candidate was leading Saturday in partial results for a tight presidential election while incumbent leader Edgar Lungu cried foul in three … Continue reading Zambia Opposition Leads Early Vote Count, Sitting President Cries Foul


Officers from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) count ballot papers at a polling station in Lusaka on August 13, 2021, following presidential and legislative elections seen as test of the country's democractic credentials after a tense campaign dominated by economic woes and a debt crisis. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP
Officers from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) count ballot papers at a polling station in Lusaka on August 13, 2021, following presidential and legislative elections seen as test of the country’s democractic credentials after a tense campaign dominated by economic woes and a debt crisis. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP
Officers from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) count ballot papers at a polling station in Lusaka on August 13, 2021, following presidential and legislative elections seen as test of the country's democractic credentials after a tense campaign dominated by economic woes and a debt crisis. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP
Officers from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) count ballot papers at a polling station in Lusaka on August 13, 2021, following presidential and legislative elections seen as test of the country’s democractic credentials after a tense campaign dominated by economic woes and a debt crisis. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP

 

Zambia’s main opposition candidate was leading Saturday in partial results for a tight presidential election while incumbent leader Edgar Lungu cried foul in three provinces.

Following a high turnout in Thursday’s vote, Hakainde Hichilema, 59, was ahead of Lungu, 64, in about 40 percent of the constituencies announced so far, even as EU observers said campaign conditions had been “unequal” and favoured the incumbent.

This is the third time Hichilema has challenged Lungu in what analysts said would be a closely-fought election amid growing resentment about rising living costs and crackdowns on dissent in the southern African country.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has so far released the results of 62 out of 156 constituencies, which put Hichilema ahead with 1,024,212 votes, compared to 562,523 for Lungu.

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.

Hundreds of UPND supporters marched through the capital Lusaka on Saturday, voicing impatience at the ECZ.

Soldiers deployed to police Thursday’s vote following violent pre-election clashes monitored the scene from armoured military vehicles.

Voting dragged on late into the night and saw sporadic clashes and troop reinforcements in three provinces after two deaths were reported on election day, including a ruling party chairman.

Zambia's incumbent president Edgar Lungu (C) casts his vote at a polling station in Lusaka on August 12, 2021, as they country holds presidential and legislative elections. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP
Zambia’s incumbent president Edgar Lungu (C) casts his vote at a polling station in Lusaka on August 12, 2021, as they country holds presidential and legislative elections. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP

 

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, adding that the PF was “consulting on the next course of action”.

Some analysts have expressed concern that Lungu might not accept anything other than victory.

Social media access, throttled in Lusaka just before Hichilema cast his vote, was fully restored on Saturday following a high court order.

The final outcome is set be announced within 72 hours of the last polling station’s closing time, meaning the wait could stretch to early Monday.

‘Transparent’ vote

There has been widespread concern about election rigging.

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’s observer mission, Ernest Bai Koroma — a former president of Sierra Leone — on Saturday said voting “operations were conducted in a peaceful, transparent and professional manner”.

European Union counterparts were slightly more critical of the poll, denouncing the internet curbs and “unequal campaign conditions”.

Zambian presidential candidate for the opposition party United Party for National Development (UPND) Hakainde Hichilema gives a press conference at his residence, in Lusaka on August 11, 2021. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP
Zambian presidential candidate for the opposition party United Party for National Development (UPND) Hakainde Hichilema gives a press conference at his residence, in Lusaka on August 11, 2021. Patrick Meinhardt / AFP

 

The electoral process was “technically well-managed” but “marred by… restrictions on freedoms of assembly and movement, and abuse of incumbency”, chief observer Maria Arena told a press briefing.

Security forces blocked Hichilema from campaigning in several parts of the country, including the strategic Copperbelt Province, citing breaches of coronavirus measures and a public order act.

Around seven million people were registered to vote, the majority aged between 24 and 34, out of a population of over 17 million.

Alongside the president, they also elected a parliamentary representative, a mayor and local councillor.

Hichilema is running for the sixth time, backed by an alliance of ten opposition parties.

AFP