Zambians throng polling stations There was a long queue of voters when polls opened in the Lusaka suburb of Kanyama
There was a long queue of voters when polls opened in the Lusaka suburb of Kanyama

There was a long queue of voters when polls opened in the Lusaka suburb of Kanyama

Takunda Maodza in LUSAKA, Zambia
ZAMBIANS yesterday thronged polling stations across the country to elect a new president following the death of Mr Michael Sata last year amid claims of electoral irregularities by the United Party for National Development leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

But Patriotic Front candidate Mr Edgar Lungu says he is winning the elections because he has done his home work well.

Eleven candidates are vying for the presidency, but the front-runners are Mr Lungu and Mr Hichilema.

Mr Lungu told journalists after voting at Andrew Mwenya Polling Station in Chawama on the outskirts of Lusaka: “We have done our home work. I can safely say we are winning.”

Mr Lungu is the Defence and Justice Minister.

Speaking to journalists soon after voting at Kabulonga Boys High School in the heart of Lusaka towards midday, Mr Hichilema alleged political violence by the PF against his supporters in the run-up to the polls.

“The environment is what we are concerned about. People are afraid of being attacked.

“Some polling stations have been moved on the last minute. There are no ballot papers in our strongholds. This is all to ensure that I get less votes,” said Mr Hichilema.

“We are victims of brutality. Our vehicles are attacked and police just watch. Zambians are tired of mediocre leaders.”

Mr Hichilema is a prominent businessman in Zambia.

When journalists asked him if he was going to accept the election results, he said: “In a free and fair and democratic environment there is no issue. Whoever wins has won, whoever has lost, has lost.”

Mr Hichilema said he was confident of winning the election despite the alleged electoral irregularities .

He pledged to bring macro-economic stability by reducing Government expenditure.

“We will like to save taxpayers’ money and direct it to investment,” said Mr Hichilima.

Chawama, where Mr Lungu voted, is an old high-density suburb equivalent to Mbare and its residents are mainly the poor.

High-density suburbs in Zambia are called “compounds” and Mr Lungu’s supporters are confident he will win the polls.

“Mr Lungu is a ‘compound man’. He is a man of the people unlike Hichilema who stays with the rich and does not care about ordinary citizens,” shouted some PF supporters as they welcomed Mr Lungu at Andrew Mwenya polling station around 10.30 am.

“It is God who ordains leaders and I know my preferred candidate Mr Lungu is winning the election,” said Mr Evans Nguni, a builder.

The elections went on peacefully with Zambians thronging polling stations to choose their leader despite the heavy rains that pounded Zambia throughout the day.

The Herald managed to visit a number of polling stations in Lusaka and surrounding areas and witnessed no incidence of politically-motivated violence.

Mr Lungu on Monday vowed to deal firmly with political rivals who refuse to accept the election result.

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