The African Union observers in Zambia’s election have indicated high tensions in the country following the Thursday vote to decide on the next leader.
Ernest Bai Koroma, former president of Sierra Leonne and leader of the AU mission in Zambia said the 2021 general election took place against a backdrop of heightened political tensions in the country especially between the two major political parties.
According to the mission, the heightened friction has been occurring between the incumbent ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party and the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Violence occurred in North-Western province, a Hichilema stronghold, where two people including a chairman of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party were killed, according to the incumbent leader.
The blame was put on Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND) party. Zambia’s electoral commission has launched an investigation into the chairman’s murder.
The UPND distanced itself from the case, calling it a “distraction” tactic.
The PF also alleges that some of its agents were beaten and chased from polling stations in Southern province.
The AU mission attributed this to tensed politics fueled by misinformation from the media. But Final consolidated results are expected to be declared by end of the day on Sunday.
The ballot is expected to be the tightest yet in the third successive standoff between President Edgar Lungu, 64, and veteran opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema.
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