Lungu is President-elect

President Edgar Lungu has won re-election with 50.35% to avoid a re-run.

Presidential Returning Officer and ECZ Chairperson Esau Chulu declared Mr Lungu as President-elect after polling 1,860,877 votes beating his closest rival UPND president Hakainde Hichilema who polled 1,760,347 votes representing 47.67%.

FDD’s Edith Nawakwi came a distant third with 24,149 votes, PAC’s Andyford Banda had 15,791 votes,Rainbow party’s Wynter Kabimba 9,504 votes and UPP’s Saviour Chishimba with 9,221 votes.

UNIP’s Tilyenji Kaunda has 8,929 votes, Green party’s Peter Sinkamba has 4,515 votes with DA’s Maxwell Mwamba with 2,378 votes.

The total number of cast votes stood at 3,781,505 votes representing a percentage turnout of 56.45% with valid votes being 3,695,710.  The number of rejected ballots is 85,795 votes.

And PF Secretary General Davies Chama says President Lungu’s victory is for the people who love the unity of the country.

But UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says he will not recognise the election results.

Mr Hichilema has told Radio France International that the election has not been free, fair and transparent.

And UPND Chairperson for legal affairs Jack Mwiimbu has indicated that the party will petition  the election of President Lungu in the Constitutional Court.

This means the UPND will have to file the petition within seven days, which will then be heard within 14 days.

If President Lungu’s election is petitioned, the Speaker of the National Assembly will have to perform Executive functions in accordance with Article 104 (3) of the constitution.