Zambia: Analysts fear election dispute could cause unrest and divisions

Analyst fear that the ongoing election dispute in Zambia could divide the country and cause unrest.

President Edgar Lungu narrowly won the August 11 poll and his opponent Hakainde Hichilema has filed a court petition to challenge the result, claiming the vote was rigged.

However Zambian political analysts have raised concerns over possible divisions, in the wake of the closures of three broadcasters on Tuesday by the government.

“I think that we need to consider either a mixed member proportional representation or outright have a proportional representation system that reflects everyone who has participated in the election to participate in national affairs, failure to which, we risk having this country divided into two parts,” says Zambian political analyst Lee Habansonda.

Zambia is going through economic stress owing to depressed commodity prices, alongside mine closures, rising unemployment, power shortages and soaring food prices.

Lungu who was elected in a snap election in January 2015 after the death of president Michael Sata had promised to control spending and act to boost economic growth in Africa’s second-largest copper producer.