Zambia opposition leader files election challenge

Zambia’s main opposition leader has filed a petition at the constitutional court challenging last week’s re-election of President Edgar Lungu. Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development, or UPND, says the vote was rigged and Lungu did not receive the 50 percent required to avoid a run-off. Zambia’s electoral commission said Lungu, of […]

Zambia’s main opposition leader has filed a petition at the constitutional court challenging last week’s re-election of President Edgar Lungu.
Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development, or UPND, says the vote was rigged and Lungu did not receive the 50 percent required to avoid a run-off.
Zambia’s electoral commission said Lungu, of the ruling Patriotic Front, won 50.35 of the vote against 47.63 for Hichilema.
The court challenge will delay Lungu’s scheduled inauguration because of a law that says a president cannot be sworn into office if the election is contested in court. The constitutional court has 14 days to hear the petition.