Zambia has suspended the counting of votes and the announcement of election results nationwide after reports of violence targeting election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) announced the suspension on Friday, 14 August, a day after Zambians voted in presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. The commission said the decision was taken because of the security situation and continued threats of violence, and that it would review the suspension within 24 hours.
ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said:
The violence is targeted at poll staff, and in some instances has resulted in the theft of marked ballot papers in ballot boxes.
The commission has not identified those responsible for the alleged thefts. No official presidential result has been declared, although preliminary counts have been released at constituency level.
President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second five-year term after defeating former President Edgar Lungu in 2021.
His main challenger is Brian Mundubile, a first-time presidential candidate who has emerged as the leading opposition contender. Mundubile has claimed victory based on his party's own tally, but there is no official result confirming that claim.
Hichilema, meanwhile, has urged Zambians to remain calm and wait for the electoral commission to announce the official outcome. The election has been closely watched as a test of Hichilema's economic record. His government oversaw Zambia's debt restructuring following the country's 2020 default and has sought to attract investment into mining and other sectors. But high living costs, unemployment and electricity shortages remain major concerns for many voters.
The suspension comes at a particularly sensitive point in the electoral process. Zambia has generally been regarded as one of the more stable electoral democracies in the region, and Hichilema's 2021 victory resulted in a peaceful transfer of power.
The current interruption means the ECZ must now address the reported attacks on election officials and missing marked ballots before the count can resume. The opposition has expressed concern about the delay, while Hichilema has called for patience. Mundubile has urged the commission to release the results, while also alleging that the delay could create an opportunity for manipulation. He has not provided evidence to substantiate that claim.
The ECZ's review over the next 24 hours will be closely watched, particularly for indications of when counting will resume and whether the reported incidents could affect the credibility of the final result.
If no presidential candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, Zambia's electoral system provides for a second-round runoff within 37 days.
