Zambia election observers cite intimidation, count pause

International observers said Saturday that Zambia's election was marred by claims of intimidation, abductions and an hours-long pause in vote counting, as President Hakainde Hichilema sought a second term.

The electoral commission suspended counting for around six hours on Friday after reports of violence against polling staff and alleged theft of ballot papers. Counting resumed after the commission said the “security threat” had been contained.

The commission began releasing district results later Friday and said the final outcome would be made public by Monday.

The observer mission of the regional SADC grouping said the suspension had caused “uncertainty and anxiety”. Its head, Samuel Tembenu, said the mission recorded but could not verify reports of intimidation, assault, abduction and damage to property in five provinces, including some reported physical injuries and one submission mentioning fatalities.

Tembenu gave no details on the alleged fatality. Reports said it may have involved a polling agent and that several arrests had been made.

Botswana's former president Mokgweetsi Masisi, leading an International Conference on the Great Lakes Region observer mission, said the suspension risked “the credibility of the process and the confidence of voters”. He urged the main parties to de-escalate, avoid announcing results and stop inflammatory language.

Michael McNamara, chief observer of the European Union mission, said the elections “took place against a backdrop of constrained democratic space”. He said incumbency advantages had blurred lines between state and political campaigning, creating an uneven playing field.

Hichilema, 64, is being challenged by Brian Mundubile, 55, a former minister in the previous Patriotic Front government. Around 8.7 million voters were registered in the country of 22 million people. Voters also elected 226 parliamentary seats, up from the previous 156.