Presidential elections underway in Zambia

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Lusaka - Zambians will today take to the polls to elect a President following the death of President Michael Sata last year.

About 5.1 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at about 6 456 polling centres dotted in 150 constituencies in an election where 11 candidates are contesting.

The polling centres opened at 6am local time and will officially close at 6pm.

Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and opposition leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema, are the top contenders.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged all leaders participating in Zambia's presidential election to conduct themselves in a manner that will contribute to the holding of peaceful election.

The 14-member regional bloc, which has deployed 65 observers across the southern African nation, said Zambia has always been a beacon of peace and democratic elections in the region and hoped that this will be maintained during the election.

South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, who is also the head of the observer mission, said she hoped that the election will be held in a peaceful, free and fair way.

The observers, she said, will be sent to various parts of the country to ensure that the election is held in accordance with the principles and guidelines set by the regional bloc. - SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua