Zambia election: Hichilema takes early lead as opposition claims armed raid

Zambia's incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has secured an early lead in the country's general election, positioning him for a potential first-round victory. According to the electoral commission, Hichilema has won nearly 59 percent of the votes, with more than half of the country's constituencies reporting. His closest competitor, Brian Mundubile of the opposition National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), has garnered around a third of the votes.

A candidate requires more than 50 percent to avoid a runoff, and the final results are anticipated in the coming days. However, Hichilema's substantial lead has been questioned due to claims of an armed raid on his main rival's residence and international monitors' assertion that the election is unfair. On election day, a Zambian polling agent was killed, and nine individuals were detained by police.

Opposition NRPUP alleges that a few members of the Zambian army, possibly linked to the security forces, entered Mundubile's home in Lusaka, fired live ammunition, and injured an MP, before taking several individuals who are currently unaccounted for. NRPUP called for immediate regional and international involvement to clarify the situation.

The government has yet to address the allegations. Hichilema's governing UPND has previously accused the opposition of overstating irregularities to undermine their legitimacy. The EU's monitoring mission described the election as competitive but tilted in favor of the incumbent, citing government media coverage bias and the mixing of government activity with campaigning.

Since multiparty politics were reintroduced in 1991, Zambia has maintained a peaceful transfer of power, with Hichilema winning a decisive victory in 2021. Despite Zambia's wealth of copper and other minerals, more than 70 percent of its 22 million residents live on less than $3 a day, according to the World Bank.