LUSAKA. – Zambia’s electoral body said yesterday it had not deliberately delayed to start announcing the results of the presidential election, saying it was still waiting for results from various constituencies. Zambians voted in general elections and referendum on Thursday, with a high voter turnout, forcing the electoral body to extend the voting period in some polling stations.Priscilla Isaacs, the director of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), said the electoral body will only start announcing the results for the presidential election after receiving them from the polling stations.
“We can only give official results after we get results from all polling stations in a constituency and verify them. So bear with us because we want to ensure that we get factual results,” she told a press briefing.
She, however, said the electoral body expected to start giving official presidential results at 2pm local time, yesterday.
She said voting had closed in all the 7 700 polling stations, adding that the last polling station in western Zambia closed at 2am yesterday, adding that counting was currently underway in most polling stations.
She further called on stakeholders to ignore results being posted on social media and wait for official results from the electoral body.
“The Commission has continued to call for calm. I know we are all anxious but we must be patient and wait for the ECZ to make its first official announcement,” she added.
Nine candidates stood as presidential candidates but the race is mainly between incumbent President Edgar Lungu and main opposition contender Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Lungu narrowly beat Hichilema by less than 28 000 votes in last year’s presidential election called after the death of President Michael Sata.
About 6,7 million voters turned up to vote for a president, lawmakers, local councillors and city mayors and in a referendum meant to amend part three of the constitution which deals with people’s rights.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s electoral body and international observers expressed satisfaction with a peaceful voting process amid high voter turnout.
Isaacs said reports received from various parts of the country indicated that there was a good voter turnout.
Early this week, the ECZ had expressed concern that violence that had characterised the run-up to the elections would result in many voters failing to turn up to exercise their right to vote.
Violent clashes between supporters of incumbent President Lungu and leading opposition challenger Hichilema characterised the campaign.
“The ECZ is pleased to report that there is a good turnout at various polling stations and the voting environment is calm and peaceful,” she said on Thursday during a press briefing.
The electoral chief said most polling stations opened on time because materials were distributed on time, although there were a few polling stations, mostly in western and northwestern Zambia, where voting was delayed due to poor road network.
Apart from electing a president, the electorate will be voting for 156 lawmakers, 1 624 local councillors, city mayors and for a referendum meant to amend part three of the constitution, which deals with people’s rights.
The presidential race is tight between Lungu and Hichilema.
The opposition leader cast his vote at Kabulonga Secondary School, in Lusaka, the country’s capital, and said Zambians expects free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
“Otherwise Zambians will decide for the leadership they require today; we campaigned but today is the day for the voter,” he said.
He said whoever wins the elections does no matter as long as the elections are held in a free and fair environment.
Lungu, who cast his vote at John Howard’s Apostolic Church in Chawama compound, said he was impressed with the voter turnout and urged stakeholders to allow the electoral body to conduct credible elections.
The European Union (EU) Observer Team said the high voter turnout indicates that Zambians were eager to exercise their right to choose their leaders. Chief observer Cecile Kyenge said a visit to a number of polling stations has revealed that the voting process was peaceful and without irregularities, according to state broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.
Final presidential results are expected late today. – Xinhua.
