Zambia’s presidential election vote count resumed on Monday after a nationwide suspension triggered by violence and fraud allegations, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema extending his lead as the opposition cried foul.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had halted counting and announcement of results on Friday, August 14, just one day after Zambians went to the polls, citing violence targeting election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers from boxes. Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis announced the suspension under Section 67 of the Electoral Process Act, citing threats to staff safety across multiple districts.
Opposition Alleges Armed Raids
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) alleged that armed individuals raided tallying centres and attempted to rewrite General 20 forms, the official documents used to record and transmit polling-station results. The allegations, which remain subject to verification by the ECZ, have fuelled tensions in what was already a closely watched election.
With more than half of the country’s 156 constituencies counted before the suspension, Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) had won nearly 59 percent of the vote according to the electoral commission’s partial figures. The PF has rejected the early numbers and called the process fraudulent.
Security Concerns and Delays
The 24-hour suspension disrupted the ECZ’s original timeline, which had projected final presidential results by Monday, August 17. Election observers reported violence at several tallying centres, with officials among those targeted. In some cases, individuals were allegedly caught attempting to alter result forms before verification.
Regional and international observers have been monitoring the process closely. The election, which also included parliamentary and mayoral races, is seen as a test of Zambia’s democratic credentials in a region where several countries have experienced political instability.
The vote comes amid economic strain, with Zambians grappling with high inflation, debt pressures and unemployment. Hichilema, who first came to power in 2021 after defeating Edgar Lungu, had campaigned on economic reform and anti-corruption measures.
Results Expected Shortly
The ECZ has indicated that final presidential results would be released once counting is complete across all constituencies. The commission has not commented on the fraud allegations, saying only that it is verifying claims through its standard procedures.
The election has drawn格外 attention given Zambia’s role as a relatively stable democracy in a region that has seen military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Madagascar in recent years. A contested result could test the country’s institutions and raise concerns about democratic backsliding across the continent.
Sources: Al Jazeera; Reuters; allAfrica; New York Times; Electoral Commission of Zambia
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