Lusaka, Zambia — The presidential election in Zambia has been overshadowed by allegations of intimidation and a significant pause in the vote count. International observers reported that the election, which took place on Thursday, was marred by claims of intimidation, abductions, and a suspension of the vote count for approximately six hours.
The electoral commission suspended the count following reports of violence against polling staff and the alleged theft of ballot papers. Samuel Tembenu, a former Malawian justice minister leading the observer mission, recorded reports of intimidation, assault, abduction, and property damage across five provinces.
A tragic incident involved the killing of a 57-year-old polling agent, leading to the arrest of nine suspects by the police.
The election, a test of President Hakainde Hichilema’s first term, saw him facing off against Brian Mundubile, a former minister in the Patriotic Front government.
The European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer missions expressed concerns over the reported incidents and called for parties to tone down inflammatory statements. Political tensions were high as Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development (UPND), sought a second term against Mundubile’s National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP).
The opposition has questioned the legitimacy of the process, particularly regarding the suspension of vote counting.
The electoral commission announced that the “security threat “had been contained, enabling the vote count to resume.
However, the delay has raised concerns about the integrity of the election process. Mundubile warned of the potential for result manipulation, while Hichilema’s camp maintained that the election was free and fair.
The final results are expected on Monday, with the authorities urging calm as they work to resolve disruptions and resume the counting process. This incident highlights the challenges African countries face in conducting peaceful and transparent elections and underscores the critical role of international observation missions in ensuring the credibility of electoral processes 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: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
