Zambia vote count suspended after ballot theft reports

Zambia's electoral commission suspended vote counting nationwide on Friday after its chief electoral officer reported violence against polling staff and theft of marked ballot papers from boxes.

Brown Kasaro said the commission would review the suspension within 24 hours. Counting in the parliamentary vote was also suspended.

Zambia voted on Thursday in an election focused on economic hardship. President Hakainde Hichilema, in power since 2021, faced Brian Mundubile, a former minister in the previous Patriotic Front government, among 14 contenders.

Mundubile claimed first-round victory on Friday, saying he had won the presidency and a majority in parliament. Hichilema said his team was receiving "encouraging results" and urged citizens to remain peaceful and wait for the official outcome.

About 8.7 million people were registered to vote. Voters were also choosing 226 members of parliament. Official presidential results were expected on Monday.

The interior ministry said security agencies had arrested several suspects accused of plotting to interfere with the electoral system. It did not say how many people were arrested, but said they included three former senior government officials and a 56-year-old Kenyan national. Three other people, including a former provincial minister, were summoned after being found with more than 7.3 million kwacha.

Zambia's Human Rights Commission said on the eve of the election that it was monitoring arrests and detentions involving political candidates, supporters, journalists and other actors.