Zambia incumbent takes early election lead as opposition alleges armed raid

President Hakainde Hichilema appears on course for outright win as observers cite violence and a tilted campaign field. Zambia’s incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has taken an early lead in the country’s general election, putting him on course for a possible outright first-round victory, as the vote is overshadowed by opposition claims that armed personnel raided his main rival’s home. Voting began after polls closed on Thursday, and with more than half the country’s constituencies counted on Sunday, Hichilema had won nearly 59 percent of the vote, according to the electoral commission. His nearest challenger, Brian Mundubile of the opposition National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), trailed with about a third. A candidate needs more than 50 percent to avoid a run-off, and final results are expected within days.

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