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Johannesburg — The African Union commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma yesterday congratulated Zambia for holding successful elections, which set an example for the rest of the continent.

“The chairperson is gratified with this violence-free election in Zambia, which sets the pace for the remaining 17 elections planned to take place on our continent in 2015,” her spokesperson Jacob Enoh Eben said in a statement.

“The chairperson congratulates the Zambian Independent Electoral Commission for conducting this peaceful poll . . .”

Edgar Lungu was elected president of Zambia on Saturday.

Dlamini-Zuma congratulated Lungu on his election.

Associated Press reported that Lungu, the candidate for the Patriotic Front was declared the winner of Zambia’s presidential election on Saturday with 48,3 percent of the vote.

Hakainde Hichilema of the opposition United Party for National Development came in second with 46,7 percent.

The election was held after president Michael Sata, who had formed the Patriotic Front, died in October. — Sapa.