Zambia votes in a general election today, the 12th of August, 2021 in what is a keenly observed election in the southern African nation.
The country’s President, Edgar Lungu (64), who is seeking re-election will try to fend off a perennial opposition challenger Hakainde Hichilema (54) though, in total, 16 candidates are vying for the presidency.
Lungu cast his vote on Thursday morning and speaking to reporters afterwards, the president said:
Please let them come and vote and go back home and stay and wait patiently and peacefully for the outcome.
I hear some politicians that are asking people to hang around the polling centres that will just cause chaos.
I’ve set the example, I’ve voted I’m going home to stay, listen to the radio, newspapers, television and wait for the results to be declared, that’s what a good citizen does.
So please, don’t hang around polling stations this will just cause confusion, contention. The best thing to do is to cast your vote quickly, go home…
Lungu first came to power in 2015 after winning a disputed snap election to finish the term of President Michael Sata who died in office.
He was then elected to a full five-year term in 2016, although his main rival Hachainde Hichilema alleged fraud.
Hichilema is running for the presidency for the sixth time in this election.
Zambia will go for a second-round vote if none of the candidates gets more than 50% of the votes cast in this election.