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- President Edgar Lungu conceded defeat – and promised to adjust to Zambia’s Structure.
- Lungu congratulated his opponent and thanked his supporters.
- His Patriotic Entrance celebration conceded its loss, because it now turns into the primary opposition celebration.
Zambia’s incumbent candidate, President Edgar Lungu, conceded to his opponent on Monday.
Lungu gained 1 814 201 votes, almost one million lower than opposition politician and supreme victor, Hakainde Hichilema, who bought 2 810 757 votes.
In a video posted to his Fb web page and broadcast on Zambia’s nationwide tv station, Lungu conceded defeat, in mild of the outcomes introduced by the Electoral Fee of Zambia (ECZ) within the early hours of Monday morning.
“Primarily based on the revelation of the ECZ closing outcomes, I’ll adjust to the constitutional provisions for a peaceable transition of energy,” Lungu mentioned, sporting a masks and seated in entrance of the Zambian flag.
READ | Zambian President Edgar Lungu concedes defeat after rival Hakainde Hichilema’s landslide win
The now former president congratulated Hichilema, who he known as his “brother”, with the title “president-elect”.
Lungu’s concession marks a shift in tone from earlier when he declared the vote “not free and honest” and requested the electoral fee to cease the depend.
In an election that noticed the military deployed to implement Covid-19 laws, and a crackdown on opposition campaigning, Lungu’s concession shall be a welcome step in direction of stability.
“I wish to thanks, Zambian individuals, for giving me an ideal alternative to be your president. I’ll eternally cherish that authority you vested in me,” Lungu mentioned.
“After all, there have been challenges on the best way, however what I appreciated most was your assist through the powerful instances,” he added.
Lungu was elected in 2015, serving the rest of President Michael Sata’s time period, who died in workplace.
He then narrowly beat Hichilema within the 2016 basic election to change into president.
Zambia’s financial disaster proved to be the decider within the nation’s basic election, steering votes away from Lungu’s Patriotic Entrance, even in earlier strongholds.
Lungu, a lawyer by occupation, campaigned on the infrastructure tasks his authorities spearheaded, however his message was overshadowed by the day-to-day financial circumstances that Zambians confronted.
READ | Zambia’s opposition chief wins decisive victory in election overshadowed by Covid-19
Shortly earlier than the outgoing president’s assertion, Lungu’s celebration issued a press release to concede its loss.
The celebration additionally congratulated Hichilema’s United Occasion for Nationwide Improvement (UPND).
“As for the Patriotic Entrance Occasion, it’s time for introspection. Allow us to search our hearts and search God’s face. We nonetheless have a component to play as the biggest opposition political celebration in Zambia,” the celebration mentioned.
It urged its members to stay disciplined and keep away from hostility. The celebration, although, posted photos of one in every of its workplaces ransacked and broken, alleging this was the work of the UPND.
The electoral fee recorded a voter turnout of 70.95% of Zambia’s simply over seven million registered voters.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Basis. The tales produced by way of the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that could be contained herein don’t mirror these of Hanns Seidel Basis
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