The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has lifted the suspension on vote counting that was imposed following violent incidents during the tallying of the August 13 national elections.
Earlier on Friday, the ECZ halted the counting process after reports of attacks on election officials and the removal of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes. The commission indicated that it would review the suspension within 24 hours based on the prevailing security situation.
ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis announced that consultations with security agencies confirmed that the threats had been contained, allowing the resumption of the tallying process. She stated:
"The security threat to the electoral process has been contained, and the necessary measures have been put in place to enable the process to continue."
Counting resumed immediately, with the commission planning to release the first batch of results by 10:00 pm on Friday, ending hours of uncertainty.
Polling was reported to have been successfully completed across all stations nationwide, with the last station closing early Friday. Over eight million registered voters participated in elections featuring fourteen presidential candidates. The main contest is between incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, seeking a second term, and opposition candidate Brian Mundubile, a former minister backed by the Patriotic Front.
Zaloumis appealed to all political parties and supporters to maintain peace and allow election officials to perform their duties without interference or intimidation. Law enforcement agencies will continue providing security to ensure orderly counting and announcement of results.
