Zambia's Lungu re-elected president as rival cries foul

Zambia's incumbent president, Edgar Lungu, on Monday was declared the winner of a closely-fought election but the victory was immediately challenged by his main rival.

Election commission chief Esau Chulu announced Lungu was "duly elected" after releasing the final results from Thursday's election, which put the president ahead of his main rival Hakainde Hichilema by 2.5 percent or around 200,000 votes.

"We are going to take up this matter legally," Jack Mwiimbu, legal specialist for the United Party for National Development (UPND), told reporters.

Incumbent Zambian President Edward Lungu (C) during his closing campaign rally in Lusaka on August 10, 2016 ©Gianluigi Guercia (AFP/File)

"We have overwhelming evidence of manipulations in the figures."

But the ruling Patriotic Front's secretary general Davis Chama, who popped several bottles of Champagne at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre where the results were announced, laughed off allegations that the vote was rigged.

"Those are cry-babies who always complain each time there is an election. We have taught them a lesson and this is the end of the UPND," said Chama.

Lungu's supporters poured out into the streets sporting party paraphernalia to celebrate the win.

The runup to the election campaign was tense and clashes between PF and UPND supporters, left at least three people dead. But election day was largely peaceful.

Lungu polled over 50.35 percent or 1.86 million votes against Hichilema's 47.63 percent or 1.66 million, according to results released four days after the vote.

Hichilema on Sunday charged that unexplained delays in releasing the results were a clear sign of fraud to produce a win for Lungu's PF.

The electoral commission had initially said the results would be announced within 48 hours of the close of voting.

"Clearly this is rigging an election, with the collusion of managers at the Electoral Commission of Zambia or commissioners," said the wealthy businessman, who had made his fifth bid for the presidency.

The United National Independence Party (UNIP) which was set up by the southern African country's founding president, Kenneth Kaunda, also said it would also challenge the results.

UNIP, which is now led by Kaunda's son Tilyenji, performed dismally, taking position seven out of the nine parties that were in the race.

- Weeks of clashes -

The results took some by analysts by surprise.

"Given the current state of the economy. I didn't expect him to win. He hasn't done well in the area of governance of and restoring confidence in the economy," said Oliver Saasa, a political and economic analyst.

Copper-rich Zambia is usually known for its relative stability.

But the run-up to the vote was marked by weeks of clashes between supporters of the rival parties which saw at least three people killed.

However commentators ruled out post election violence.

"I would be suprised to see violence breaking out, if it happens it would be isolated case, just like we saw during the campaign period. Zambians are generally peaceful," said Saasa.

Zambia's electorate had also cast ballots in parliamentary and municipal elections as well as in a constitutional referendum.

Lungu has been in office for just 19 months.

He took power last year when he beat Hichilema by less than 28,000 votes in a snap election following the death in office of president Michael Sata.

He has been re-elected for a full five-year term.

Zambia, a British colony until 1964, recorded GDP growth of 3.6 percent last year -- its slowest rate since 1998.

The falling price of copper, the country's key export, has badly damaged the economy with thousands of jobs lost in mining and inflation soaring to over 20 percent.

Zambia: country profile


Zambian Electoral Commission officers register and count votes under torchlight, at a polling station in Lusaka on August 11, 2016 ©Gianluigi Guercia (AFP/File)

Zambian presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema of the main opposition party United Party for National Development, casts his ballot on August 11, 2016 in Lusaka ©Gianluigi Guercia (AFP/File