Zambia voting goes beyond poll closing time

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Voting in Zambia went beyond the stated closing time of 6 p.m. on Thursday because of a huge voter turnout in the election where President Edgar Lungu faces stiff competition.

Polling stations in several regions, including the capital Lusaka, decided to stay open until the last person in the queue at 6 p.m. could cast a ballot.

The general atmosphere was calm and peaceful except for a report of an alleged murder of a ruling Patriotic Front (PF) official in North-Western Zambia near the border with Angola by suspected opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres.

Jackson Kungo was reportedly beaten and died on his way to the hospital.

Reports from Chilanga, a district 23 kilometers (14 miles) from Lusaka, said two people were reportedly shot and a house razed.

Lungu directed Army Commander William Sikazwe to reinforce troops in the northwestern, western and southern provinces where members of the opposition were reportedly orchestrating post-election violence.

Lungu said he was dismayed by the amount of mayhem in provinces which rendered the elections not free and fair.

"How can you talk about free and fair elections when our opponents have taken this election as war?” he said in a statement late Thursday.

He said the troops should ensure that they do not leave any stone unturned in ensuring peace returns to the rest of the country.

"It is of course clear that these two Zambians have been killed in cold-blood by UPND members,” said Lungu as he consoled grieving families.

He added that the job to arrest the killers lies with security officers and his supporters should be calm and not retaliate as some suspects had already been apprehended.

The African Union observer mission to Zambia head and former Sierra-Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma said the mission was encouraged with the high turnout of voters in monitored stations nationwide.

Koroma told reporters that it presented an indication of a peaceful and transparent outcome to the elections which should be accepted by all participants.

Former President Rupiah Banda also cast his vote and urged Zambians to maintain a peaceful atmosphere even when results are announced.

Lungu cast his vote in Chawama Township in Lusaka where he is a former member of parliament. His former seat is being contested by his daughter.

Lungu’s rival, Hakainde Hichilema, also voted in Lusaka.

The other 14 candidates for the presidency also cast ballots in different locations around the country.