Zambia's incumbent wins hotly contested polls with 50.35% of votes

Zambia’s president has been declared winner of the August 11 polls. Edgar Lungu polled 1,860,877 votes, over 100,000 votes more than the main opposition’s 1,760,347 figure to pass the 50% threshold.

“I honorable Justice Esau Chulu,being the returning officer for the election, declare Edgar Chagwa Lungu President Elect,’‘ the Chief Justice affirmed after the Zambia Electoral Commission declared the remaining 24 constituencies on Monday.

The 59-year-old leader came into power after winning a ballot triggered by the death of his predecessor, Michael Sata, in October 2014.

Consolidated 156 Constituencies
PF-1,860,877
UPND-1,760,347
FDD-24,149
PAC- 15,791
RAINBOW-9,504
UPP-9,221
UNIP-8,928
DA-2,378
GREENS-4,515

— Zambia Elections2016 (@ZEIC_2016) August 15, 2016

This was the first Zambian election in which the winner had to cross the 50% mark to be declared winner.

A tally of the final results for the two main contenders were as follows:

• PF – Edgar Lungu = 1,860,877 (50.35%)
• UPND – Hakainde Hichilema = 1,760,347 (47.67%)

The results from all 156 constituencies have been announced and the winning party has been declared #ZEIC pic.twitter.com/8wPer04gyL

— Zambia Elections2016 (@ZEIC_2016) August 15, 2016

President Edgar Lungu leader of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) went into the polls with eight other contenders, even though the race was seen as a straight fight between him and Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND). This is the second time Hichilema is losing to Lungu.

The country’s electoral commission banned campaigning in the lead up to the elections due to growing cases of violence between supporters of the PF and the UPND.

Lungu who has been in power for a year and by his reelection gets the mandate to rule for the next five years.

The Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC) which posted information and updates from the start of the polls, through the voting and collation tweeted a congratulatory image for president-elect Edgar Lungu.

There we have it #Zambia, the President Elect of the Republic is, Mr. Edgar C Lungu. #ZambiaDecides #Zambia pic.twitter.com/s1yYfVxlo9

— Zambia Elections2016 (@ZEIC_2016) August 15, 2016