Zambia's Hichilema 'wins' disputed election

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second term in office after winning the country's presidential election, according to results announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Results released in the early hours of Tuesday showed Hichilema securing about 60 percent of the valid vote, defeating his main challenger, Brian Mundubile, who received roughly 38 percent.

The ECZ said Hichilema polled 2,965,326 votes against Mundubile's 1,855,217.

The victory marks Hichilema's second consecutive presidential win and his seventh attempt at the presidency. Mundubile, meanwhile, was making his first bid to become Zambia's head of state.

Hichilema was widely expected to benefit from the advantages of incumbency going into the August 13 election, but the campaign and subsequent vote-counting process were overshadowed by allegations of irregularities and political tensions.

The election was relatively calm in the run-up to voting day, but tensions escalated on election night when authorities arrested 11 people, including prominent opposition figures, during a raid that involved an exchange of gunfire. Mundubile was reportedly present during the incident.

The following day, the electoral commission suspended vote-counting for several hours following reports of violence against polling officials and the theft of ballot papers.

Mundubile subsequently raised concerns over the integrity of the results, saying he had received information suggesting that results forms from some polling stations could have been altered.

He called for an urgent independent investigation into the allegations.

Hichilema's camp rejected the claims, accusing Mundubile of spreading false information.

The election result now gives Hichilema a fresh mandate to lead Zambia, while the opposition faces the challenge of contesting the results and addressing concerns raised during the electoral process.