"I therefore declare the said Hakainde Hichilema to be president-elect of the Republic of Zambia," electoral commission chairman Justice Esau Chulu said in a televised address. The 59-year-old veteran opposition politician beat his long-time rival Lungu following a bruising race held against the backdrop of deteriorating standards of living. This is the sixth time Hichilema, who is 59, has run for the top job and the third time he has challenged 64-year-old incumbent Lungu.
In 2016, Hichilema narrowly lost to Lungu by around 100,000 votes. Lungu, who has been in office for six years, faced the electorate amid growing resentment about rising living costs and crackdowns on dissent in the southern African country. Hichilema enjoyed the backing of 10 opposition parties at Thursday's vote under the banner of his and the largest opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Lungu began crying foul before a winner was declared, claiming the election was neither free nor fair due to incidents of violence reported in what are traditionally Hichilema's stronghold. In a statement issued through the president's office, he alleged that his party's polling agents were attacked and chased from voting stations. But even as results were still being tallied, street celebrations erupted in parts of the capital Lusaka with several hundred in party regalia waving flags and rallying outside Hichilema's house, AFP journalists saw. Others danced and honked car horns. Hichilema, popularly referred to by his initials 'HH' or as Bally (slang for dad), on Sunday called for peace.
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