President Hakainde Hichilema has taken an early lead in Zambiaโs presidential election, securing nearly 59 percent of votes counted in 135 of 226 constituencies. The result puts him on course for a second-term victory, though the final tally is still underway.
Electoral authorities said Hichilema had won 1,544,140 votes, or 58.87 percent, with more than half of the constituencies counted.
His closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, had 1,030,662 votes among 14 presidential candidates.
Tense election follows violence
Thursdayโs election was largely peaceful, but the campaign and counting process were overshadowed by allegations of intimidation, arrests and violence.
The Electoral Commission suspended counting for about six hours on Friday after reports of attacks on polling staff and the alleged theft of marked ballot papers.
Police said a 57-year-old polling agent died on election day after being attacked outside Lusaka. Nine people were arrested in connection with the incident.
Regional and European observers have urged political parties to avoid inflammatory statements as the country awaits the final results.
Opposition raises concerns
Mundubile claimed victory shortly after voting and said his party had secured a parliamentary majority, although the official count has since placed him well behind Hichilema in the presidential race.
The EU election observation mission said restrictions on political activity had contributed to what it called an โuneven playing fieldโ.
The SADC observer mission also said the temporary suspension of counting had created uncertainty and anxiety.
Economic record on the line
The election is a test of Hichilemaโs first term, during which Zambia returned to economic growth and secured a major restructuring of its debt.
But critics say the recovery has yet to significantly improve living standards, with more than 70 percent of the countryโs 22 million people living on less than $3 a day, according to the World Bank.
Final presidential results are expected Monday.
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