Vote counting is underway in Zambia following Thursday’s general elections, with final results expected on Monday, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced.
Polling stations across the country opened at 6 a.m. local time and closed at 6 p.m., with more than eight million registered voters casting ballots at over 13,500 polling stations.
The presidential race pits incumbent Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development, against main challenger Brian Mundubile, a former minister backed by an alliance of opposition parties.
Fourteen candidates in total are contesting the presidency.
To win outright, a candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote; otherwise, a run‑off will be held between the top two contenders.
Hichilema, elected in 2021, is seeking a second five‑year term. His campaign has emphasised debt restructuring, economic stabilisation and attracting foreign investment, particularly in Zambia’s copper sector.
Mundubile has focused on reducing the cost of living, strengthening agriculture and restoring democratic freedoms.
Observers from local and international missions, including the European Union, monitored Thursday’s vote.
Long queues were reported in Lusaka and other urban centres, with voters braving early morning cold to cast their ballots.
The election carries high economic stakes.
Zambia is Africa’s second‑largest copper producer, and the mineral is vital for global electric vehicle and renewable energy industries.
Hichilema has pledged to raise annual copper production to three million metric tonnes by 2031 while opposition parties have promised to ensure mining revenues translate into lower living costs and improved services.
The ECZ has begun releasing preliminary tallies from constituencies but stressed that official results will only be declared once national verification is complete.
Final results are scheduled for 17 August.
JN/APA