President Hakainde Hichilema has mainatined a significant lead in Zambia’s presidential election with 2,057,986 votes, as the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced consolidated results from 161 of the country’s 226 constituencies.
The figures released at the National Totalling Centre in Lusaka show the UPND candidate, Hichilema, ahead of his closest challenger, National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP’s) Brian Mundubile, who polled 1,190,920 votes.
The results announced so far represent 71.2 percent of all constituencies and the remaining 65 constituencies were still being tallied and will be announced once verification is complete, according to ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis.
The Commission reported that 5,874,765 voters were registered nationwide and of that number, 3,304,309 votes were deemed valid, while 89,789 ballots were rejected.
Total votes cast stood at 3,394,098, translating to a national voter turnout of 57.77 percent based on the consolidated results from the 161 constituencies.
“Registered voters 5,874,765, valid votes cast 3,304,309, rejected votes 89,789. Percentage turnout 57.7 percent,” Zaloumis said.
The gap between the two leading candidates currently stands at 867,066 votes in favour of President Hichilema, with 65 constituencies yet to be declared.
Read More: Hichilema leads Mundubile by 513,478 votes as ECZ consolidates 135 Constituencies
Other presidential contenders trail far behind with Citizens First’s Harry Kalaba obtaining 13,394 votes, followed by Zambia Must Prosper’s Kelvin Bwalya Fube with 12,120 votes.
Socialist Party’s Fred Membe garnered 8,022 votes and Independent candidate Given Katuta received 4,984 votes, while Given Chansa of Movement for Economic Emancipation polled 4,719 votes with Organised People’s Party (OPP) Mushimba Brian recording 3,763 votes.
Further down, Leadership Movement’s Richard Silumbe has 2,338 votes, Democratic Union’s Ackim Njovu has 1,926 votes, and Kunda Howard of the Zambia Want Party received 1,903 votes.
Zaloumis said the ECZ was proceeding with verification and collation of results from the outstanding constituencies and urged stakeholders to remain calm as the process concludes.
The Chairperson noted that all results remained provisional until the Commission makes the final declaration in line with the Electoral Process Act.
Political parties and observers have been called to monitor the conclusion of the tally, with the ECZ expected to announce the next batch of results and the final presidential outcome later today.
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