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Zambia President Re-Elected in Close Vote

by VOA News

   Zambia's president has been re-elected in a closely contested vote that
   the opposition claims was rigged.

   The electoral commission said incumbent Edgar Lungu, of the ruling
   Patriotic Front won more than 50 percent of the vote defeating his main
   rival, Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National
   Development, who took just under 48 percent.

   Members of Hichilema's party allege vote tampering in the August 11
   election and say they will appeal the results to Zambia's
   Constitutional Court.

   The Zambia election campaign was marked by weeks of clashes between
   supporters of the rival parties, which saw at least three people
   killed.

   Lungu has served since January 2015, following the death of President
   Michael Sata. He defeated Hichilema in a snap election called last
   year, winning by just 28,000 votes.