Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has been re-elected, according to final results released by the country’s Electoral Commission on Monday.
Lungu took 1.8 million votes, while main opposition challenger Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development took 1.7 million votes in the election held on August 11.
Zambia’s ruling Patriotic Front (PF) hailed its victory in the general elections as a sign that people have confidence in the party.
“This victory is a sign that people still have confidence in us.
“This victory gives us a challenge to continue with the development programmes we had embarked on,” Jean Kapata, chairperson in charge of elections, said,
He spoke after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) declared incumbent President Edgar Lungu winner.
Lungu was declared winner of the tightly contested election after polling 1,860,877 votes (50.35 per cent) from all the 156 constituencies.
His main challenger Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) polled 1,760,347 votes.
The ruling party has also won a significant number of parliamentary seats.
The PF came into power in 2011 after defeating the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) which had been in power for 20 years.
