RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Earlier, the electoral commission suspended vote counting after alleged attacks on polling staff and the theft of marked ballot papers.
https://p.dw.com/p/5IpFh Advertisement Vote counting resumed in Zambia late on Friday after it was suspended amid reports of violence against officials and the theft of ballot papers.
"I am pleased to inform the nation that the security threat to the electoral process has been contained and that the necessary measures have been put in place to enable the process to continue," Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said.
President Hakainde Hichilema is running for a second term in the southern African copper producer and is widely seen as having an advantage over opposition leader and first-time presidential candidate Brian Mundubile.
The Electoral Commission earlier suspended vote counting after incidents of violence targeting polling staff.
It said that ballot papers had been stolen in some locations, though it did not immediately give details on where the incidents occurred or how widespread they were.
After the counting resumed, the commission said the first set of results were expected late Friday night, with full results due by Monday.
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President Hichilema's main rival earlier claimed he had won, without providing evidence, and called for the results to be released immediately.
Hichilema wrote on social media shortly before the suspension of vote counting was announced that he had received "encouraging results".
"Let us remain peaceful, patient and patriotic as we await the official outcome from those entrusted with managing the vote," he said.
Around 8 million people were registered to vote in the southern African country of about 22 million people.
Voters were also choosing members of parliament and local councillors at more than 13,500 polling stations.
Local observers reported delays and frustration at some polling stations because of poor voter guidance, confusion over voter rolls and crowd-management problems.
European Union observers were monitoring the election.
Hichilema came to power in 2021 after defeating longtime rival Edgar Lungu , who served as president from 2015 to 2021 and died in 2025. Lungu's political legacy still looms over the election, with Hichilema's main challenger Mundubile leading an opposition alliance backed by many of the former president's supporters.
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