Zambian President Edgar Lungu was re-elected to a second term on Thursday, but the opposition party said the vote was rigged.
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Recent constitutional changes require the victor to secure more than 50 percent of the vote, meaning a run-off is possible should neither candidate secure a majority in the first round.
Earlier today, Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairman Justice Essau Chulu declared Mr Lungu victor of the tightly contested election.
But the declaration by Zambia’s electoral commission announcing Edgar Lungu as president-elect wasn’t welcomed by all.
But student Harrison Simenda, 24, who supports Hichilema, popularly known as HH, said: “They have stolen this election from HH but they will not enjoy it because I see very tough times ahead for our economy”. Under President Michael Sata, Lungu served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Defense.
Mr Hichilema described this election as a sham which did not reflect the will of the people. Hakainde Hichilema, the president of the United Party for National Development, got 1.76 million votes.
“We have confidence that the constitutional court will rise above the board and declare the results a nullity”, the lawyer added.
Lungu’s PF recorded a 1 860 877 while Hichilema managed 1 760 347 in the fiercest poll in the Southern African country’s 52-year history.
Lungu has been in office for just 19 months after he first took power previous year when he beat Hichilema by less than 28,000 votes in a snap election following the death in office of president Michael Sata.
What is at stake in Zambia’s elections?
Observers from the European Union said that despite several official requests, the election monitors were not granted access to the area where votes were being collected.
Zambia has enjoyed a history of conducting peaceful elections, with its election climate being held up as a model for democracy in Africa.
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Officials of the ruling party nap as they await results of the presidential elections in Lusaka, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.
