Polls close in Zambia election

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Voting in Zambia’s election ended Thursday with three front-runners expressing confidence of winning the presidency.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairman Esai Chulu told journalists at the Mulungushi International Centre in Lusaka that the polls closed at 6 p.m. local time [1600GMT].

“I wish to announce that the voting is now officially over. The results are likely to be announced within the statutory period of 48 hours after the polls close,” Chulu said.

Chulu added that there were still some long lines at some polling stations, where voting was extended for two hours. Nine candidates in total have been fighting for the presidency.

President Edgar Lungu of the governing Patriotic Front (PF) told journalists after casting his vote that he believed he would retain his position.

“As you can see, this election is no contest. I am the outright winner and I expect the other contenders to accept defeat,” he said.

The opposition United Party for National Development’s presidential candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, said that he would have no problems conceding defeat so long as the elections were fair.

“With these irregularities noted at various polling stations involving the PF, I don’t think I am ready to concede defeat at any rate,” he added.

Edith Nawakwi from the Forum for Democracy and Development said that, based on the reception she received from the people of Zambia during her campaign tour, she was confident that the presidential seat was hers.

“Let me assure you that after a failed leadership provided by my brothers in the past 50 years, the people of Zambia are not willing to risk this election to give back the presidency to a man.

“The people have spoken and given me the mandate to liberate them from the yolks of slavery imposed on them by male presidents,” she said.

Long queues and a peaceful atmosphere characterized most polling stations in the capital Lusaka except in some places where allegations of fraud were made against election officers.