Celebrations as Zambian opposition candidate leads in count

Supporters of Zambian opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema have begun celebrating as early election results show him leading in the tightly-fought, tense presidential race

LUSAKA, Zambia -- Supporters of Zambian opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema have begun celebrating Saturday as early election results show him leading in the tightly-fought, tense presidential race. Ignoring calls by the Electoral Commission for people to wait peacefully for the final official results, young opposition supporters drove through the streets of the capital, Lusaka, playing music and singing. They gathered at the headquarters of Hichilema's United Party for National Development. But signaling that he may not accept defeat, President Edgar Lungu asserted that the elections had not been free and fair in three provinces seen as opposition strongholds, citing violence and killings of his supporters, allegedly by the opposition. Lungu claimed that ruling party polling agents had been brutalized and chased away from voting stations, leaving his party’s votes “unprotected.” Lungu said that although he notified the electoral commission of his concerns, “they have continued announcing the results." His Patriotic Front party is "consulting on the next decision we have to make,” he said in a statement released by his office.