Zambia Election Count Enters Final Phase After Disruptions to Vote Tallying

Zambia’s vote count has entered its decisive phase after the Electoral Commission resumed tallying following a temporary suspension triggered by attacks on election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers at a small number of polling stations.

The disruption added an unusual security challenge to an election in a country with a long record of competitive multiparty polls and peaceful transfers of power. The Electoral Commission said the security threat had been contained and lifted the suspension, allowing counting and the announcement of results to continue.

Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis also warned presidential candidates against declaring themselves winners before the official outcome is announced. National results are expected on Monday.

Focus shifts to completing the count

President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term, while opposition challenger Brian Mundubile has challenged aspects of the process and claimed victory without providing evidence. Hichilema has urged Zambians to remain peaceful and wait for the official result.

The Electoral Commission has stressed that only officially declared results should determine the outcome. That distinction is particularly important as constituency-level figures and political claims circulate before completion of the national tally.

The election is being closely watched beyond Zambia because of the country’s role as a major copper producer and its efforts to attract investment into critical minerals, energy and infrastructure. It is also a test of whether recent macroeconomic gains, including progress on debt restructuring, have translated into sufficient public confidence amid continued concern over living costs.

Institutional credibility in focus

The immediate priority is now the peaceful completion and verification of the count. Zambia has built a regional reputation for electoral competition and transfers of power, making the handling of the final tally an important test for the country’s electoral institutions.

Towncrier Africa will update this story when the Electoral Commission announces the official presidential result.

Sources: Electoral Commission statements as reported by Reuters and Associated Press.