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Edgar Lungu

Takunda Maodza  in LUSAKA, Zambia
PATRIOTIC Front candidate Mr Edgar Lungu was leading the Zambian presidential  by-election with 26 904 votes with 29 constituencies remaining.According to the results released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia for 121 out of the 150 constituencies as of yesterday afternoon, Mr Lungu’s closest rival, Mr  Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development, was following closely.

From the 121 constituencies whose results were announced by ECZ,  Mr Lungu amassed 701 089 votes representing 48.72 percent while Mr Hichilema managed 674 185 (46.85 percent).

It is turning out to be a tight contest as Mr Hichilema has reduced Mr Lungu’s Thursday five percent lead to 1.87 percent.

Yesterday morning the UPND tried to force the ECZ to stop the announcement of the remaining 29 constituencies alleging discrepancies but failed.

This was after the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation had failed to broadcast correctly the results announced by the ECZ, drawing strong condemnation from the electoral body.

ECZ chairperson Justice Ireen Mambilima said it was shocking that the ZNBC misrepresented the results, inflaming already boiling emotions among Zambians who are angry at the continued delay in announcing the winner of the elections.

Zambians voted on Tuesday but heavy rains that pounded most parts of Zambia have affected transportation of election related material forcing the commission to extend voting days in remote areas.

The ECZ yesterday suspended live announcement of results on the ZNBC and demanded an explanation from the  broadcaster as to why it announced the results wrongly, causing unnecessary confusion.

“This is an issue that has left us perplexed. We have a contract with ZNBC for them to transmit the results. Up to now we are perplexed as to how the results can appear differently from what we released. Something, somewhere is not adding up,” said Justice Mambilima.

“I can safely say now we have a dispute with the ZNBC. Out there people are getting anxious. It is a matter of concern but our results are intact as verified by us. What on earth happened? We need to get to the bottom of this.

“It is a serious issue to place the nation in this state.”

Yesterday morning UPND supporters protested briefly outside the command centre at Mulungushi International Conference Centre over alleged discrepancies in the results but were later dispersed by police.

Zambians are choosing their sixth president following the death of Mr Michael Sata on October 28 last year.