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Zambians await with some concern the proclamation of the final results of the presidential election last Thursday. The counting, which began the day after the poll, continues.
Zambians have their eyes on the Electoral Commission which, since Friday, has been counting the ballots, with the publication of partial regional results in 15 constituencies out of a total of 152. These first results give the leader of the opposition, Hakainde Hichilema, carried by a coalition of 10 political parties, slightly in the lead, even if the two candidates are neck and neck.
“The Commission is doing everything to ensure that the final results are declared within 72 hours of the closing of the last polling station,” suggested Kryticous Patrick Nshindano, Chief Electoral Officer of the Election Commission of Zambia. The opposition has already expressed its fears about the risks of electoral fraud.
In view of the tension which characterized the campaign, and which was still perceptible on the day of the vote, Zambian and international observers warned of the risk of unrest which could arise as soon as the results were announced on Sunday.
The figures available to the Electoral Commission confirm what was observed on the ground last Thursday, namely: a strong participation of Zambian voters in the electoral game. This Saturday, the Internet and social networks, cut since the afternoon of Thursday, were restored. Only WhatsApp messaging is not yet fully restored.
President Edgar Lungu, in power since 2015, and candidate for his own succession, has seen his popularity in free fall for several months. The Zambians accuse him of having deliberately plunged the country into a debt crisis, by borrowing excessively to finance low-productivity projects. Unemployment and poverty constitute the daily lot of the population of this country, however very rich in copper.
To read : Elections in Zambia: Hakainde Hichilema ready to challenge the results
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