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Zambia polls: Hichilema takes early lead, but….
By John Eche
Is some shift coming in Zambia? This is the question on the lips of polity watchers even as the results of Thursday’s presidential and parliamentary polls begin to trickle in.
Early results from 15 of Zambia’s 156 constituencies give opposition contender, Haikande Hichilema – with 171,604 votes to the 110,178 credited to incumbent President Edgar Lungu – an early lead.
Importantly, some of the 15 constituencies are said to include ruling party strongholds. Hichilema had lost very narrowly to Lungu in 2016, and amidst rigging claims.
Troops had been deployed to trouble spots in the country ahead of the polls conduct even as an internet blackout was also to be enforced.
Zambia is in the throes of very difficult economic conditions with sovereign debt, food inflation and unemployment levels being very high at the moment.
Embattled President Lungu: On his way out?
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