Zambia’s opposition leader takes lead in presidential poll – KIRO 7 News Seattle

LUSAKA, Zambia – (AP) – The experienced Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema is about to win the presidency of the South African country with a sovereign vote lead.

The 59-year-old businessman, who is running for the presidency for the sixth time, has more than 2.3 million votes against President Edgar Lungu’s 1.4 million on Sunday, according to the Zambian Electoral Commission.

Hichilema lost just under two previous elections to Lungu in 2015 and 2016. Lungu won in 2016 by just 100,000 votes.

The winner of Thursday’s election must get more than 50% of the votes cast to avoid a second round of voting, and Hichilema appears to be close to the 2.5 million estimated at more than half of the voters. The electoral commission has announced results for more than 100 of the country’s 156 constituencies.

“With the victory in sight, I would like to ask our members and supporters for calm. Let’s be the change we voted for, ”tweeted Hichilema, whose United Party for National Development is an alliance of more than 10 smaller parties.

His supporters’ celebrations spread to the capital Lusaka and other parts of Africa’s second largest copper producer, ignoring calls by the Electoral Commission to peacefully await the final official results.

Some of the 16 candidates running for president have already fought and congratulated Hichilema.

But President Edgar Lungu has signaled that he cannot accept defeat. Lungu alleged that elections in three provinces believed to be opposition strongholds were not free and fair, citing the violence and killing of some of his supporters allegedly from the opposition. Lungu alleged that the ruling party’s electoral officials were brutally treated and driven from polling stations, leaving his party’s votes “unprotected”.

Lungu said Saturday that although he informed the electoral commission of his concerns, “they have continued to release the results.” His Patriotic Front party “is deliberating on the next decision we need to make,” he said in a statement released by his office.

Lungu’s testimony suggests he could challenge the validity of the election in order to stay in power, analysts said.

The overwhelming turnout, especially among young Zambia, was a strong sign that Hichilema would do well on the poll, according to analyst Nic Cheeseman, professor of politics at the University of Birmingham, who is in Zambia to watch the crucial elections. Young voters make up the majority of registered voters. The electoral commission found that the high turnout was unprecedented.

For some Lungu supporters, this is more than a ballot box defeat. In a country where many young people are unemployed, many Lungu supporters, from the rich to the poor, rely on patronage and fear losing access to jobs.

Stanley Lungu, 23, is one of them.

Although not directly related to the president, his association with the ruling Patriotic Front enabled him to run a parking lot and a car wash.

“I’m an orphan now, I’ve lost a father,” he said in anticipation of defeat for Lungu as he sullenly watched Hichilema’s followers dance to loud music in a popular pub where he bought 5 kwacha (about 30 cents) for parking demands.

Lungus base trailers control many parking lots, markets, bus stations and street stalls in Zambia.

Hichilema UPND officials say they want to eliminate this practice.

However, Hichilema’s followers seem to have other ideas. When big and quick results came in on Sunday after the tense, tough and sometimes violently fought elections, his supporters say they are preparing to take over these small operations.

“It’s our time!” Said Hichilema supporter Tapiwa Chivandika, 27. “We’ll take over the markets and bus stops!”

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