Vote counting in Zambia’s presidential election resumed after being suspended for several hours following reports of violence against polling staff and the alleged theft of ballot papers. International observers, including missions from the European Union and the Southern African Development Community, have urged candidates and supporters to avoid inflammatory statements as the count continues.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia said the security threat to the electoral process had been contained. Its partial results from 49 of 226 constituencies put President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of opposition candidate Brian Mundubile, but the commission said the figures were not final.
What observers reported
SADC observer mission leader Samuel Tembenu said his team could not observe the counting and collection of results during the suspension and would address the episode in its final report. He said the mission had received, but could not independently verify, reports of intimidation, assault, abduction and property damage in five provinces, including submissions alleging injuries and at least one death.
European Union chief observer Michael McNamara said Zambian authorities should fully explain the decision to suspend counting. European Parliament observer delegation leader Reinhold Lopatka called the pause disproportionate in relation to the reported number of affected polling stations and said his mission had been told of intimidation of opposition figures, pressure on some candidates and violent break-ups of opposition rallies.
Related coverage: How Edgar Lungu’s death still shadows Zambia’s election.
The candidates’ competing claims
Mundubile said the suspension raised legitimate fears and could create an opportunity for interference with the results. He also claimed victory using his party’s parallel count, alleging irregularities including missing result forms, military control of tallying centres in Mufulira and instructions to stop releasing results in North-Western Province.
Hichilema’s campaign rejected the allegations. Campaign media director Mark Simuuwe described the opposition as panicking, said the results were legitimate and accused Mundubile’s party of disruption. Hichilema has not declared victory, saying only that his campaign was seeing encouraging results.
Partial results and what happens next
The commission’s late Saturday results showed Hichilema with 438,708 votes, or 52.6 percent, followed by Mundubile with 351,281 votes, or 42.1 percent. Kelvin Bwalya of Zambia Must Prosper was third with 3,965 votes. The figures cover only 49 of the country’s 226 constituencies and remain provisional.
More context: Zambians weigh Hichilema’s reforms in August 13 election.
Police said nine people had been arrested over the killing of a 57-year-old polling agent in a township outside Lusaka, while maintaining that voting had otherwise been peaceful. Armed police and soldiers were reported in parts of Lusaka, and the commission said it would issue a further notice on Sunday morning about the timing of its next results announcement.
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