HH says election has been stolen, appeals for calm and peace

United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema says Tuesday’s Presidential election has been stolen from him and that he cannot concede defeat because he is the rightful winner.

Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, Mr Hichilema has however appealed to all his supporters to remain calm and peaceful for the sake of Zambia, adding that a call for peace is a call to protect citizens that his party wants to serve.
He adds that peace is a prerequisite for development.

Mr Hichilema says a stolen election does not deliver the will of the people nor will it deliver for the people.
He says they are aware that PF candidate Edgar Lungu will be declared the winner of the election which he has described as a sham.

He says Mr Lungu will be an illegitimate President.

Mr Hichilema states that some individuals within the Electoral Commission of Zambia allegedly manipulated results and that the results that will be announced do not reflect accurately how people voted.

He adds that they requested they requested for documents from the ECZ to back up results announced in most of the constituencies but that these documents have not be made available to them as promised.

The UPND leader says only 35 constituencies have backing documents.

And Mr Hichilema says he would have won by 100,000 votes had the election outcome been announced on the 21st of January.

Mr Hichilema has also praised ECZ Chairperson Irene Mambilima who he described as a strong, intelligent and dedicated upright Zambian woman who needs support.

And Mr Hichilema says he has no doubt that the momentum of the UPND will continue and will even grow.

He has also demanded the 2016 elections must be held under a new Constitution, majoritarian system and independent ECZ.