As voting ended Thursday at 6pm (local time) in some polling stations across Zambia, the country’s electoral management body said there was huge turnout in most polling stations.
“We have had a good turnout at most polling stations,” Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) executive director Priscilla Isaac said at a press briefing.
Isaac explained that voting was still going on in some polling stations that opened late as a result of terrain challenges which led to the late delivery of material.
“The lost time at the opening of these polling stations will be compensated,” she added.
Meanwhile, the European Union Election Observation Mission has commended Zambians for turning out in large numbers to take part in the general election and referendum. It put the turnout at about 80 per cent of registered voters.
According to the mission’s chief observer, Cecile Kyenge, “this is a clear indication that Zambians value their democratic right to vote and understand the importance of elections.”
President Edgar Lungu President, speaking after casting his vote, said he was happy with the voter turnout.
Some polling stations however faced challenges of fading ink representing the official mark on ballot papers.
Isaac said the Commission distributed ink pads to some polling stations to supplement the fading official mark, in addition to instruction to the poll staff to put the word “official” at the back of the ballot paper.
The environment in the country has been reported peaceful, and ECZ has appealed to the nation to remain calm throughout the whole process as ballot counting started after the closure of the polling stations.
According to the Commission, results would be released within 48 hours. Observers noted that the race was between President Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema of United Party for National Development (UPND).
The election had 6, 698, 372 registered voters who had the task of choosing the country’s president, members of parliament, mayors and councilors, in addition to voting in the referendum on the expanded Bill of Rights.
Photo credit: Open Zambia
