Zambia’s main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema will contest the election results that gave President Edgar Lungu victory in a tightly-fought vote, his party said Monday.
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The Election Commission of Zambia (ECZ) said Lungu narrowly secured 50.35% vote, over the 50% maximum needed to avoid a second round under a new electoral system.
“I’m happy that Edgar Lungu can continue to be president because I see a good future with him”.
The opposition party quickly rejected the result, claiming the electoral commission had colluded to rig the vote against its candidate.
Lungu took power only past year when he beat Hichilema by less than 28,000 votes in a snap election following the death in office of president Michael Sata.
His main rival, Hakainde Hichilema, who alleges electoral rigging, won 47.67%.
Mr Hichilema described this election as a sham which did not reflect the will of the people.
“We are going to petition this election in court, it was full of irregularities, malpractices and vote stealing”, said Brian Mwiinga, spokesperson for Hichilema’s UPND.
Police presence in Zambia has been heavy as the country awaited the results, delayed by two days.
“We encourage political parties and other stakeholders to cherish and embrace peace, tolerance and non-violence during the pre-election and this post-election phase of the electoral process, a virtue for which Zambia is known”, read part of a statement released by the undersigned Heads of Election Observation Missions.
A tally board shows updated results of the presidential elections at the electoral results centre in Lusaka, Zambia, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.
Edgar Chagwa Lungu (born 11 November 1956) took over office since January 2015 following the death of President Michael Sata.
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The victor of the presidential election in one of the most stable democracies in Africa must get more than half the vote, failing which the top two candidates face a re-run.
