By a Correspondent
LUSAKA — Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has strengthened his lead in the presidential election, putting him on course for a second term as the counting of votes from last Thursday’s poll continues.
Partial results released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia showed Hichilema with about 62% of the valid vote, compared with 36% for his main challenger, Brian Mundubile, after results from roughly 71% of constituencies had been reported.
Hichilema, 64, is seeking another five-year term after first taking office in 2021, when he defeated then-President Edgar Lungu. Under Zambia’s electoral system, a presidential candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second-round runoff.
The latest figures therefore place Hichilema in a strong position to secure re-election in the first round if his lead is maintained as the remaining constituencies are announced.
Mundubile, who leads the opposition Tonse Alliance, has rejected the emerging results and raised concerns about the integrity of the vote.
“We wish to place on record our grave concern regarding the integrity of the ongoing presidential election process,” Mundubile said in a video posted on social media.
He alleged that his campaign had received information suggesting that results forms from polling stations may have been altered and called for an independent investigation.
Hichilema’s spokesperson, Clayson Hamasaka, dismissed the allegations.
“It’s all lies. They have been crying about everything from the time campaigning started,” Hamasaka said.
The dispute comes after vote counting was temporarily suspended following reports of violence against electoral officials and the theft of ballot papers. Authorities have also arrested several opposition figures, including people linked to Mundubile, in a development that has further heightened political tensions.
The government said those arrested were suspected of possessing high-grade military weapons and preparing for an armed insurrection. Opposition parties and civil society groups have accused the authorities of using security measures to suppress dissent, allegations the government denies.
