Zambia suspends vote counting nationwide citing violence

Zambia has halted nationwide vote counting on Friday due to reports of violence targeting poll workers, the electoral commission announced. The Southern African nation held elections on Thursday, with President Hakainde Hichilema and his main rival Brian Mundubile battling it out in an election focused on economic challenges. Both candidates are seeking a five-year term, but Mundubile, a 55-year-old ex-minister, claimed a preliminary victory.

However, Hichilema's team reported encouraging results and appealed for peaceful conduct. The country's chief electoral officer, Brown Kasaro, stated that the violence is directed at election staff, and in some cases, has led to the theft of marked ballots. The electoral commission will reassess the suspension within 24 hours. Despite Zambia's rich history of peaceful power transitions, concerns have been raised about the current government's efforts to curb dissent while promising economic recovery.

The Human Rights Commission is actively monitoring arrests and detentions involving political figures, journalists, and supporters.