Reports on Monday indicated that the main opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, had demanded a recount in a key constituency due to alleged irregularities involved in the tallying of votes.
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Mr. Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) secured 50.35% of the votes totaling 1,860,877 votes, while Mr. Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) received 47.67% of the votes, totaling 1,760,347 votes.
“We have confidence that the constitutional court will rise above the board and declare the results a nullity”, the lawyer added. Southern province police commissioner Goldwin Phiri reported clashes with police in the towns of Monze, Chombe and Mazabuka.
With 50.14 percent, Lungu was ahead of Hichilema, with 47.7 percent, after results were collated from 132 of 156 constituencies in August 11 voting, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) told a news conference.
“The total of votes cast was 1,880,857, whereas 1,837,289 were valid and 43,568 were rejected”.
The electoral commission initially said results would be announced within 48 hours of the close of voting, and no explanation has been given for the delays.
Meanwhile, there is jubilation in the streets of Lusaka as PF supporters celebrate President Lungu’s re-election.
“I’m happy that Edgar Lungu can continue to be president because I see a good future with him”.
Political tension comes as Zambia’s economy struggles, partly because of the fall in prices of copper, its main export.
Lungu only narrowly won a vote 20 months ago after the death of president Michael Sata. “We mean well and we shall not betray the people’s trust”, PF secretary-general Davis Chama said.
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In other election-related crimes, the District Electoral Officer Francis Nkhoma of the Mpongwe Constituency has confirmed the discovery of the discarded lid of a 2016 parliamentary ballot box with Electoral Commission of Zambia serial number ECZ -16 0430212.
