The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced latest presidential election results from 85 verified constituencies indicating that Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate, Michael Sata, is still leading with 639,787 votes, representing 42.9 per cent.
ZANIS reports that the latest results indicate that Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate and incumbent President, Rupiah Banda is still in the second position with 542,362 votes or 36.41 per cent.
United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Hakainde Hichilema still commands the third position after garnering 247,284 votes translating into 16.60 per cent.
ECZ Chairperson Irene Mambilima announced the latest standings at 12:35 hours at the national election results centre set up at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
Justice Mambilima said National Restoration Party (NAREP) candidate, Elias Chipimo Junior is in fourth position with 5,764 votes while Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) candidate Charles Milupi is fifth with 5,748 votes and United National Independence Party (UNIP) candidate Tilyenji Kaunda has 5,644 votes in the sixth position.
The rest are Forum for Democracy and Development’s (FDD) Edith Nawakwi with 3,602, National Movement for Progress (NMP) candidate Ng’andu Magande with 3,493 votes, Heritage Party’s Godfrey Miyanda is in the ninth position with 2,331 and Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) candidate, Fredrick Mutesa is at the rear with 1,269 votes.
She said the results from the 85 constituencies that have since been verified and released are out of the total results received from the 101 constituencies so far.
This means that election results from 49 constituencies are still being awaited.
From the results that have so far been released by the national elections centre, Mr. Sata is comfortably leading in Luapula, Northern and Copperbelt Provinces while Mr. Banda is commanding Central, Eastern and North western provinces.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has an upper hand in Southern Province, the region he hails from.
Results from most constituencies in Lusaka and Western Provinces are yet to be received and verified by ECZ.
On the publication of results, Justice Mambilima said National Assembly results are declared at constituency level by the Returning Officers while presidential results are announced at both constituency and at the national results centre after being verified.
“It is important to note that the Presidential election results have not yet been finalised and declared by the Returning Officer, who is the Chief Justice,” she said.
She has since forbidden the media and other stakeholders not to in any way declare any of the presidential candidates as a winner.
Meanwhile, the ECZ Chairperson said she was aware that there was a lot of anxiety among members of the public concerning the announcement of the winner of the presidential election.
She has therefore appealed for calm, patience and peace among Zambians especially that the 48 hours time frame which the ECZ and political parties agreed on to complete the whole process has not elapsed.
In a related development, Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde has warned of stern action against people that are engaging in riotous and violent activities to press for the release and declaration of presidential results.
Mr. Kabonde said the police will not allow anybody to injure any person, damage property or disturb public peace.
He was reacting to information that some people in Copperbelt province and other parts of the country are rioting over perceived delayed announcement of presidential election results by the ECZ.
The Police Chief said his officers will ensure that all those engaging into riots are brought to book even after the election period.
“No any meaningful government will protect law breakers. So we will ensure that all those found wanting are brought to book,” he said.
Mr. Kabonde also appealed to political party cadres to exercise patience saying the 48 hours time frame on which the ECZ and political party leaders agreed to release the election results is not yet over.
ZANIS