Key facts
- Zambia's Electoral Commission suspended vote counting nationwide on Friday.
- The suspension is due to reports of violence against election officials and the theft of ballot papers.
- The commission will reassess the suspension within 24 hours.
- President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term.
- Brian Mundubile, a leading opposition candidate, claimed victory.
Vote counting in Zambia's presidential election has been suspended nationwide by the Electoral Commission of Zambia due to reports of violence targeting election officials and the theft of ballot papers. The commission announced the immediate suspension on Friday, stating it would review the decision within 24 hours.
Thursday's election saw President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term against 13 other candidates, with Brian Mundubile, leader of an opposition alliance, considered his strongest challenger. While Zambia has a history of peaceful elections, Hichilema's government has faced criticism from opposition and rights groups for allegedly clamping down on dissent. Mundubile's alliance accused the government of orchestrating a raid on its offices before the election.
Mundubile claimed a first-round victory and expressed concern over delays in announcing results, while Hichilema's team reported encouraging preliminary results and urged citizens to remain patient. The election also involved the selection of 226 parliamentary seats, with counting for those also suspended. Approximately 8.7 million people were registered to vote in the election, which focused on economic hardship.