Zambians start voting in elections seen as test of democracy

Zambians are voting in a tense election that the president and his main rival have said is a test of the southern African country’s reputation as a stable democracy

LUSAKA, Zambia -- Zambians are voting in a tense election that the president and his main rival have said is a test of the southern African country's reputation as a stable democracy. Polling began early Thursday morning at more than 12,000 polling stations, including in prisons. More than 7 million people, or over 83% of eligible voters, have registered to vote, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia. President Edgar Lungu is counting winning votes on his record of infrastructure developments, mainly Chinese-funded, and the distribution of agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers to millions of farmers. However, his chances could be hurt by a debilitating economic tailspin. Lungu, who came to power in 2015, cast his ballot in the capital, Lusaka. “We are a winning team,” he said of his Patriotic Front party.