Zambia’s Electoral Commission has suspended vote counting nationwide following reports of violence in some districts after Thursday’s presidential election.
Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the decision was taken after election officials were targeted in some areas, with reports of ballot papers and ballot boxes being stolen. He added that the suspension would be reviewed within 24 hours as authorities assess the security situation and determine the next steps in the counting process.
The development has raised concerns over the transparency and pace of the electoral process, as Zambia awaits the official announcement of results from a closely watched presidential contest.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s opposition leader and presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has expressed “grave concern” over the suspension of vote counting, calling for full transparency in the electoral process. His comments came after the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced a nationwide halt to the counting of ballots following reports of violence in some districts.
Mundubile has claimed that early indications suggest he secured victory in the presidential race and won a majority of seats in Parliament, while urging authorities to ensure that the continued delay in announcing results does not undermine public confidence. He called for a transparent verification process and the timely release of credible election results.
