Observers say Zambia’s election marred by reports of intimidation, violence

Vote counting in Thursday’s presidential polls were briefly suspended amid security threats to the electoral process. International observers monitoring Zambia’s presidential election have raised concerns over reports of intimidation and abductions, after vote counting was suspended for several hours amid violence at polling stations. Observer missions – including those from the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region – on Saturday called for parties to tone down inflammatory statements as votes cast in Thursday’s general election were tallied. Vote counting was temporarily suspended on Friday following reports of violence against polling staff and the alleged theft of ballot papers. Counting resumed hours later after the electoral commission said the “security threat to the electoral process had been contained”, said Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from the capital, Lusaka.

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