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Vote counting suspended then restarted in Zambia election after attacks at polling stations
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Vote counting in Zambia’s presidential election was temporarily suspended due to attacks on polling officials and theft of ballot papers, but resumed hours later under heightened security in Lusaka.
- The main opposition leader, Brian Mundubile, claimed he was interrogated by the army and alleged election interference, including military control of vote counting stations and ballot box removals.
- One person, identified as a party official, was killed at a polling station during the vote, with nine suspects arrested; riot police and soldiers were deployed to maintain order amid concerns of potential unrest.
- President Hakainde Hichilema urged citizens to remain peaceful and patient as the official results are awaited, emphasizing the election as a test of his economic recovery efforts.
- The election involved 14 presidential candidates and voting for parliamentary and local government seats, with about 8 million registered voters; final results are expected by Monday.
