Zambians start voting in elections seen as test of democracy

LUSAKA – Zambians are voting successful a tense predetermination that the president and his main rival person said is simply a trial of the confederate African country's estimation arsenic a unchangeable democracy.

Polling began aboriginal Thursday greeting astatine much than 12,000 polling stations, including successful prisons. More than 7 cardinal people, oregon implicit 83% of eligible voters, person registered to vote, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

President Edgar Lungu is counting winning votes connected his grounds of infrastructure developments, chiefly Chinese-funded, and the organisation of cultivation inputs specified arsenic seeds and fertilizers to millions of farmers. However, his chances could beryllium wounded by a debilitating economical tailspin. Lungu, who came to powerfulness successful 2015, formed his ballot successful the capital, Lusaka.

“We are a winning team,” helium said of his Patriotic Front party.

He urged radical “to travel and ballot and spell backmost location and enactment and hold patiently and peacefully for the outcome."

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“I perceive immoderate politicians are advocating for radical to bent astir the polling centers, that volition conscionable bring chaos,” said Lungu. "I person voted. I americium going home, and volition perceive to the radio, newspapers, tv and hold for the results to beryllium declared. That’s what a bully national does. Please don’t bent astir polling stations, you volition conscionable origin unnecessary anarchy.”

His main rival is 59-year aged Hakainde Hichilema and this volition beryllium a sixth changeable astatine the presidency successful the state of 18 cardinal people. He touts his inheritance arsenic a businessman, saying helium volition beryllium capable to pull investment, amended negociate the stuttering system and eradicate alleged corruption.

“The elections should effect successful a alteration of government,” helium told reporters connected the eve of the elections. He is hoping that hardships brought by the crisp descent of the country's once-growing system volition propulsion Zambians to ballot for change.

“Poverty is written everywhere. Everybody is hurting. Zambia is astatine a crossroads,” helium said.

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Analysts accidental similar erstwhile contests betwixt the 2 men successful 2015 and 2016, this ballot volition beryllium intimately fought.

Violence flared betwixt supporters of Lungu’s PF enactment and Hichilema’s United Party for National Development during a heated run period.

Both Lungu and Hichilema utilized their last addresses to rise interest implicit the violence, saying the comparative bid erstwhile enjoyed successful the state is astatine stake. They urged citizens to ballot successful peace.

But it is what happens aft the ballot that has galore radical worried. Results volition beryllium announced connected Sunday astatine the latest, the electoral committee said earlier this week.

In total, 16 candidates are vying for the presidency. Zambia volition spell for a second-round ballot if nary of the candidates get much than 50% of the votes cast.

More than 800 candidates volition conflict for the elected 156 seats successful the National Assembly. Mayoral and assembly seats are besides up for election.

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