Zambia’s electoral authority halted vote counting from Thursday’s presidential, parliamentary, and local elections due to reports of violence targeting polling personnel and the theft of marked ballots. Following consultations with law enforcement agencies, the commission determined that security threats had been contained and resumed the counting process. Officials announced they aimed to declare results by the end of Sunday.
Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema is competing for a second five-year term against 13 challengers, with opposition candidate Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) emerging as the primary competitor. Mundubile expressed concern about result announcement delays and cited reports of military involvement at tallying centers and irregularities in ballot box handling. He called for station-by-station result publication and investigations into the alleged incidents, while claiming his party’s own tabulation showed him winning. Hichilema issued a statement requesting citizens remain patient pending official outcomes.
Thursday’s polling was generally peaceful, with voters queuing at numerous locations and only scattered procedural delays reported. Civil society monitors documented mostly orderly voting processes alongside some minor incidents. The election was characterized as a referendum on Hichilema’s economic management, which included debt restructuring, currency strengthening, and reduced inflation, though many citizens reported their personal circumstances remained unchanged. Meanwhile, international human rights organizations had criticized the government for restricting freedoms ahead of the election.
Mundubile, a former minister in the previous Patriotic Front administration, drew support from backers of late former President Edgar Lungu, whose death and unburied remains in South Africa have intensified political divisions. The contest between the two candidates generated significant voter engagement, with citizens citing economic concerns and dissatisfaction as motivations for participation. Voter accounts reflected mixed assessments of the government’s performance and competing priorities regarding economic progress and social welfare provisions.
Under electoral rules, if no presidential candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election must occur within 37 days.
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