Zambia Opposition Leader Declares Himself Winner of the Presidential Election Before ECZ Suspends Counting

Zambia’s opposition leader Brian Mundubile declared himself the winner of the presidential election before the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had suspended the nationwide counting of votes, citing results from his party’s parallel voter tabulation.

Mundubile, in a video he posted on his social media, said his party’s PVT, based on results transmitted from polling stations and tallying centers across the country, showed that he had defeated incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema at the presidential level and that his party had also won a majority of parliamentary seats.

“We have won this election,” Mundubile declared in a televised address, while calling on the ECZ to immediately publish and verify the official results.

He said the continued delay in announcing the presidential results had raised concerns that the process could create an opportunity for interference or manipulation.

Mundubile also made a series of serious allegations concerning the handling of electoral materials in several parts of the country.

He claimed that military personnel had taken control of certain tallying centers in Mufulira and alleged that GEN 20 forms were being removed.

He also raised concerns over reports involving ballot boxes in Chawama and Matero constituencies, alleging that some ballot boxes had been unlawfully removed, stolen, interfered with or transported outside established electoral procedures.

“These reports must be addressed immediately,” Mundubile said, insisting that electoral materials belonged to the official record of decisions made by Zambian voters and should not be controlled by political parties, government officials or security institutions.

He defended his party’s decision to announce its own assessment of the election, arguing that presidential votes are counted at polling-station level and that party agents are entitled to receive the prescribed electoral documentation.

Mundubile said his party had therefore been able to collect results from its agents across the country and establish what he described as a clear national trend through its PVT.

He called for the immediate publication of official results and demanded that relevant electoral records be made available to stakeholders so that the outcome could be independently verified.

The opposition leader’s declaration came before the ECZ formally suspended the counting and announcement of results across the country.

Hours later, the commission announced the suspension, citing violence and the theft of ballot papers.

The timing of the two developments has heightened tensions surrounding the election, with Mundubile having already claimed victory before the official electoral authority halted the process.

However, Mundubile’s declaration remains a claim based on his party’s parallel tabulation and does not constitute an official election result. The ECZ remains the authority responsible for verifying and declaring the final presidential outcome.