ZAMBIA SUSPENDS VOTE COUNTING AFTER ATTACKS ON POLLING STAFF

Zambia's electoral commission suspended vote counting nationwide on Friday, one day after the country held presidential and parliamentary elections. The suspension followed reports of violence targeted at polling officials and theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes in some districts. Chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro said the commission would review the decision within 24 hours.

President Hakainde Hichilema, who has held office since 2021, sought re-election against 13 other candidates, with former minister Brian Mundubile as his main challenger. The election centred on economic hardship in the copper-rich southern African nation. Hichilema, a 64-year-old businessman, posted on social media urging citizens to "remain peaceful, patient and patriotic as we await the official outcome". He said his team was receiving "encouraging results".

Mundubile claimed victory on Friday, stating "we have won this election both at presidential level and majority seats in parliament" and expressed concern over the delay in transparent announcement and verification of results. Official presidential results were scheduled for Monday. The suspension marked a significant disruption to the electoral process in a country that has held multiple competitive elections since multiparty democracy returned in 1991.