Zambia's Hichilema leads with 54.8% in early presidential count
What's next: If he stays above 50%, President Hakainde Hichilema avoids a runoff after voting was briefly disrupted by violence and ballot theft.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema held an early lead in the country's presidential election count on Sunday, with 54.82% of declared votes after results from 105 of 226 constituencies. Main challenger Brian Mundubile had 43%, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia. If Hichilema keeps an outright majority, he will secure re-election without a second round; otherwise, Zambia must hold a runoff within 37 days. The vote took place Thursday alongside parliamentary and local elections in a key test of whether Hichilema's economic progress after a pandemic-era debt crisis is enough to win a second term in Africa's second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of Congo. Counting was temporarily paused Friday after violence against election officials and the theft of ballot papers.