Zambia’s Election Marred by Intimidation and Vote Counting Pause Amidst Concerns BODY: Lusaka, Zambia – International observers have expressed concerns over reports of intimidation and the temporary suspension of vote counting in Zambia’s 2026 presidential election.
The halt in vote tallying, following incidents of violence at polling stations, has raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
The electoral commission suspended vote counting for several hours after receiving reports of violence against polling staff and the alleged theft of ballot papers.
The incident, which caused uncertainty and anxiety among observers and the public, was characterized by the regional SADC Electoral Observation Mission as a “security threat. “.
The SADC mission, led by former Malawian justice minister Samuel Tembenu, recorded reports of intimidation, assault, abduction, and property damage across five provinces. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of election officials and voters, as well as the integrity of the election process. President Hakainde Hichilema, who is seeking a second term, faced a challenge from Brian Mundubile, a 55-year-old former minister in the previous Patriotic Front (PF) government.
The election was closely watched due to concerns about the integrity of the process and the state of democracy in Zambia. Despite the reports of violence and intimidation, the electoral commission resumed vote counting after announcing that the security threat had been contained.
The EU’s chief observer, Michael McNamara, stated that the election took place against a backdrop of constrained democratic space, with advantages of incumbency and heavily biased state media coverage.
The observer missions have called on all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to complete the ongoing results process.
The full reports from the observer missions are expected within 30 days.
As Zambia awaits the final results, the incidents of violence and intimidation during the election process have sparked discussions about the need for improved security measures and the importance of upholding democratic values in the region.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: aljazeera
Source: Al Jazeera Staff and AFP
