Presidential election in Zambia: one dead and social networks cut off during voting day
Long queues at the polling stations (here in Lusaka, the capital) suggest a strong participation in the Zambian presidential election on August 12, 2021. REUTERS - STRINGER
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Seven million voters were called to the polls for several elections, including the presidential one.
They had to decide between sixteen candidates, including the outgoing Edgar Lungu, against his historic rival Hakainde Hichilema, who was running for the sixth time.
Voting marked by a few incidents and disruptions on the internet.
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Everything looked perfect in the Zambian capital.
The polling stations opened at 6 a.m.
The long lines made it seem like turnout was high and no incidents were reported in Lusaka
,
reports our correspondent in Lusaka,
Caroline Dumay.
And then, in the middle of the afternoon, a wrong note.
Zambians realized they no longer had access to social media.
WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter or Facebook, impossible to communicate, news is no longer circulating.
Before the election, the government threatened to block the internet if certain "
peddlers [have] heard false information that could destabilize
" the election.
At around 6 p.m., the electoral commission announced that “
sporadic violence
” had taken place inside the country.
In Solwezi, North West Province, a senior official from the Patriotic Front, the ruling party, was killed near a polling station.
President Lungu denounced a "
murder
".
According to the authorities, it will take 72 hours to complete the count.
The Zambians hope to have their results Sunday evening (August 15th).
These will be made public at the Lusaka National Results Center.
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See also:
Presidential election in Zambia: the country, economically weakened, holds its breath
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