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Registered voters in Zambia are voting to elect their preferred candidates in the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
The polls opened at 6 a.m. and are expected to close at 6 p.m., with results due on Monday.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, whose five-year term is drawing to a close, is said to be favoured to win a second term in the southern African country.
During his first term, Hichilema’s administration helped propel the copper-producing country of 22 million people into an economic recovery.
He also steered Zambia through debt restructuring and recovery after the country defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020.
Brian Mundubile, a parliamentarian and first-time presidential candidate leading an opposition alliance backed by supporters of Hichilema’s predecessor, the late former President Edgar Lungu, is Hichilema’s main challenger.
Despite improvements in economic indicators, many Zambians say they are struggling with the cost of living.
Analysts say this could be the incumbent president’s main weakness in the election.
James Phiri, a 29-year-old university student, told Reuters that he voted for Hichilema because he cares about the population.
“I voted for HH because he cares about us,” Phiri said.
“Things are better after he re-introduced meal allowances.”
During his campaign before becoming president in 2021, Hichilema vowed to restore allowances for university students, which had been cancelled by previous administrations, a promise he has fulfilled.
Supporters of Mundubile, however, say they want a change in government.
“I have just come from firing someone. We are tired of stories about economic progress,” said Samuel Chitendwe, a 47-year-old welder and father of four who said he voted for Mundubile.
Lee Habasonda, a political science lecturer at the University of Zambia, said the opposition camp has support in Lusaka and Copperbelt Province, both of which have large numbers of registered voters.
Concerns have also been raised about the fairness of the election following allegations of political repression, which the government denies.
US non-profit group Freedom House says that although Zambia holds regular multiparty elections, opposition parties face “onerous legal and practical obstacles to fair competition.”
Below are pictures from the polls:
