President Hakainde Hichilema has taken an early lead as results of ballots counted so far show him ahead of his main rival by over 87,000 votes with more than 75 percent of constituencies still to be announced.
Results announced by Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis late on Saturday placed Hichilema ahead of his closest challenger Brian Mundubile by 87,427 votes.
Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) has secured 438,708 votes while Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) has obtained 351,281.
A total of 26,103 ballots were rejected, bringing the number of votes cast to 833,671 across the announced constituencies, representing a turnout of 55.45 percent.
Trailing candidates remain far behind the frontrunners, with Citizens First’s Harry Kalaba, Zambia Must Prosper’s Kelvin Fube Bwalya, Socialist Party’s Fred M’membe and others each polling fewer than 4,000 votes.
Independent candidate Given Katuta, the only woman in the race, has received 1,919 votes.
Zaloumis urged patience as the remaining constituencies are processed, stressing that the final outcome would only be announced upon completion of the nationwide tally.
“The commission urges all political parties, candidates and the general citizenry to remain calm and exercise patience as we continue with the remaining tallying processes,” she said.
ECZ chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro assured that despite delays, the commission remains on track to announce final results by 17 August.
JN/APA