Zambia’s opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema on Sunday blasted the national election commission for slow progress in releasing results from this week’s closely-fought presidential vote.
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“At every turn of events, they are questioning the results when their candidate gets less votes but when they are leading, they are not questioning”. The electoral commission had initially indicated that results would be announced within 48 hours of the close of voting, and no explanation has been given for the delays.
The Atlanta-based Carter Center, founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, said the election took place in a highly tense atmosphere and the run-up was characterized by significant inter-party tensions and polarization. Hichilema, 54, an economist and businessman who has failed in four previous bids for the presidency, has said he will revive growth, promote investment and ensure state funds are better spent.
Meanwhile, the Lusaka High Court has turned down a UPND request to grant an order for the suspension of the release of all election results until the ECZ suspended three of its top officials the UPND accuses of conniving with Lungu to rig the poll outcome.
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.
He blamed Hichilema’s party for the delays, saying they had raised numerous complaints with the electoral commission.
It said police were still investigating a report that an ECZ official had given his identity card on Friday to a man who could then enter the commission’s computer room and tamper with the results.
Observer teams from the African Union, Southern African Development Community and Electoral Institute for Southern Africa said they were satisfied with the voting process and there were only isolated incidents of campaign violence.
Early results announced on Saturday from only eight constituencies had put Hichilema ahead. Results were now expected later, officials said, without giving a time frame.
If no candidate fails to win more than 50 percent this time, Zambia will have to hold a second round of elections.
Lungu’s short term in office has been marked by the falling price of copper, the country’s key export, with inflation rising to over 20 percent.
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The presidential, parliamentary and local election also included a constitutional referendum on amending the bill of rights.
