Zambia resumes vote count after violence, ballot theft

Africa, Politics

LUSAKA, Zambia (NPA) — The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has resumed the counting of votes from the country’s August 13 general election after temporarily suspending the process over attacks on election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers.

The commission announced the suspension on Friday, less than 24 hours after Zambians voted to elect a president, members of Parliament and local government representatives. The counting was later restored under heightened security after authorities said the security situation had been brought under control.

ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the commission could not compromise the safety of its personnel or the integrity of the electoral process.

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The commission reported that the violence had targeted polling staff and, in some instances, resulted in the theft of marked ballot papers. Security personnel, including riot police and army units, were subsequently deployed around vulnerable areas, including the main tallying centre in Lusaka.

The disruption has added tension to an election widely seen as a test of Zambia’s democratic stability and the economic record of incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, who is seeking a second term.

Hichilema, who won the presidency in 2021, is facing opposition leader Brian Mundubile, the main challenger in the election. Mundubile has already claimed victory, despite the absence of an official declaration, and questioned the delay in releasing results.

The ECZ has warned candidates and political parties against declaring themselves winners, stressing that the authority to officially declare the election outcome rests with the electoral commission.

Hichilema, meanwhile, has called for patience and urged Zambians to await the official results, saying his campaign had received encouraging indications but that the commission’s figures must be respected.

The election is being closely watched because of the political and economic challenges confronting Zambia. Hichilema’s administration has pointed to progress in debt restructuring, economic stabilisation and attracting investment, while opposition parties have focused heavily on the continued pressure faced by households over the cost of living, unemployment and economic inequality.

Zambia’s copper industry also gives the election broader economic significance, with the country remaining one of Africa’s major copper producers and attracting substantial international interest in its mining sector.

About 8 million registered voters participated in the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections, according to election reporting. The presidential contest requires a candidate to secure more than 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a second-round election.

The ECZ’s official election timetable provides for the receipt and verification of presidential and National Assembly results between August 15 and 17, with the declaration of results scheduled for August 17.

The latest disruption has raised concerns among observers about the potential impact of electoral violence and the theft of sensitive materials on public confidence in the process.

Zambia has traditionally been regarded as one of the more stable multiparty democracies in Africa, having experienced peaceful transfers of power, including Hichilema’s victory over then-President Edgar Lungu in 2021.

The 2026 election, however, has taken place against a backdrop of heightened political tensions, with opposition groups and rights organisations raising concerns about restrictions on political activity and the treatment of dissent. The government has rejected allegations that it is undermining democratic freedoms.

As counting continues, the ECZ faces the task of maintaining transparency and public confidence while ensuring the safety of its officials and the integrity of election materials.

For the competing political camps, the commission’s final tally will determine whether Hichilema secures another term or Zambia enters a new political chapter under Mundubile.

For now, the official results remain pending, with the ECZ expected to complete verification and announce the presidential outcome in accordance with its timetable.