“I promise to serve you even better”, Lungu told thousands of supporters at his final rally, referring to last year’s vote to replace late president Michael Sata in which he narrowly beat Hichilema.
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At the time of going to press, the opposition was demanding a recount of the votes in Lusaka while maintaining overall the elections were not free and fair.
“We have confidence that the constitutional court will rise above board and declare the results a nullity”, he said.
Nine candidates run for president, and under the country’s amended constitution, a victor must garner 50 percent plus one of the votes in order to be declared victor.
Hichilema accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of fraud and demanded to speak with the commission’s chairman on Sunday, but was denied access to its headquarters by police.
Both the Electoral Commission and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) have since rejected Hichilema’s claims, stating that the opposition leader was making inflammatory statements in a bid to rid himself of frustrations.
Hichilema, a close second in that election, called the vote a sham.
The Post, an influential independent newspaper, was also forced to close in June over alleged non-payment of taxes – triggering appeals from media rights’ groups and the USA embassy.
Susan Jere, who supports Hichilema, popularly referred to as “HH”, said she was certain after hearing unofficial results from some counting centres that her man would prevail.
“The race is close only between the two main parties”, Neo Simutanyi, the director of the Lusaka-based Center for Policy Dialogue, said by phone on Wednesday as he waited to cast his vote in the capital. “We are demanding that they be suspended, resign or alternatively stop participating in these elections”, UPND lawyer Martha Mushipe said. As of yet, no explanation for the delays has been given and no new time frame has been given.
Lungu, who cast his vote at John Howard’s Apostolic Church in Chawama compound, said he was impressed with the voter turnout and urged stakeholders to allow the electoral body to conduct credible elections.
Lungu will rule for a second five-year term.
Early results announced on Friday from only eight constituencies had put Hichilema ahead.
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“Our main concern is that Mr Hichilema has made a decision to take his frustrations to a criminal level”, said Given Lubinda, a member of the parliament dissolved ahead of the vote.
