Zambia’s ruling party concedes defeat
Hakainde Hichilema has won the presidential vote after losing five elections, promising to 'fix' the economy
The party of Zambia’s outgoing President Edgar Lungu has congratulated opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for his victory in the presidential election.
“The Patriotic Front Party would like to congratulate the president – elect, Hakainde Hichilema, on his deserved victory,” the party announced on its Facebook page.
The statement said the party would take time to assess what went wrong. In another post it announced that the “transition process is underway,” adding that security for the president-elect had been dispatched.
Hichilema garnered more than a million votes to defeat the incumbent. It was his sixth attempt at winning the presidency. His supporters have been celebrating on the streets of the capital, Lusaka.
Earlier, Lungu had alleged that the elections were not free and fair
Hakainde Hichilema has won the presidential vote after losing five elections, promising to ‘fix’ the economy
Victory
Zambia’s electoral commission has confirmed that last week’s presidential election was won by the opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema.
Hichilema defeated his main rival, the outgoing President Edgar Lungu, by more than a million votes.
It was Hichilema’s sixth attempt at winning the presidency. His supporters have been celebrating on the streets of the capital, Lusaka.
Earlier, Lungu alleged that the elections were not free and fair. He said election officials from his Patriotic Front party had been chased from polling stations, leaving votes unprotected.
In response, Hichilema’s United Party for National Development said the statement was the “desperate final act of an outgoing administration”.
In its final tally, the electoral commission said Mr Hichilema had won 2,810,777 votes to Mr Lungu’s 1,814,201 in Thursday’s election. There were seven million registered voters. The landslide win means Hichilema will not have to fight a run-off contest.
“I therefore declare that the said Hichilema to be president of Zambia,” commission chairman Esau Chulu announced at the results centre in Lusaka.
Lungu’s six-year rule was criticised for alleged human rights abuses, corruption, a failing economy and massive unemployment.
Correspondents say Hichilema, 59, tapped into widespread dissatisfaction among voters. He now faces the daunting challenge of turning around the country’s economic fortunes.
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