Zambia: Hichilema Takes Early Lead in Elections

JUST IN: Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema takes an early lead in the country's general election, winning nearly 59% of the vote with more than half of constituencies counted, according to the electoral commission.

Hakainde Hichilema is on nearly 59 percent, and Zambia's still counting.

More than half of the country's constituencies are in, and the electoral commission has the sitting president well clear of the field. If that number holds, he wins outright, no run-off, no second round, done in one. His supporters were already out in force during the campaign, and you can see the scenes here.

But there's a shadow over this one. The opposition says the home of his main challenger, Brian Mundubile of the NRPUP, was raided while the votes were being counted. No detail yet on who or why, and the government hasn't answered it, but an allegation like that landing mid-count is exactly how disputed elections start.

So the maths says Hichilema cruises. The question is whether his opponents accept the scoreboard, and right now they're telling you they won't.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.

Source Read the original reporting at allafrica.com