Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia Photo: Harrison Tuntu
Voting is underway in Zambia's highly contested presidential by-elections to elect a successor to the late President Mwanawasa. Voting in various polling centres across the country opened at 6am in the morning and is expected to close at 6pm today. It is a fierce battle between four contenders.
They include acting President, Rupiah Banda, of the governing MMD and frontline opposition Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata. Others are UPND’s, Hakainde Hichilema and Heritage Party’s Godfrey Miyanda.
The electoral authorities in Lusaka have said that they will start announcing the presidential election results from across the country by Friday morning.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Florence Mumba said “the announcement will be done at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre as soon as the results electronically pour in from the country’s 150 constituencies.”
A quick check in selected polling stations around the capital, Lusaka and the mining town of Ndola revealed that people had begun queuing-up at the polling stations as early as 4.30 am on Thursday.
The Mulungushi International Conference Centre has been designed as a central location where election results from all the 72 districts of Zambia will be announced and reflected on an electronic billboard.
The results will then be given to the public through local and international media, currently present at the centre.
