Government candidate Rupiah Banda has taken lead in Zambian presidential election though results of the last two constituencies are yet to come, analysts say.
With returns from 148 of the total 150 constituencies in Zambia, Banda has gained 708,683 votes followed by his top challenger and opposition leader Michael Sata with 652,354 votes, Justice Florence Mumba, chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia, announced at a news briefing late on Saturday.
Results of Sikongo and Sinjembela constituencies in Banda's stronghold Western Province are yet to come but analysts say the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) stands a very slim chance to turn the tables.
The final results will be announced soon, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
Under the Zambian constitution, it only requires a simple majority of the total votes to declare the winner.
The winning candidate is to be sworn in within 24 hours from the time election results are announced.
The PF had vowed to protest if Sata lost the election to Banda of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
The opposition party told media that it will go to the court over the election disputes, which the ruling MMD said is "naive".
"That is a democratic right to do but they (PF) are being very naive," MMD spokesman Bennie Tetamashimba said in his response to PF's threat of court action.
The signing of return papers, Tetamashimba said, shows that all parties, including the PF, are satisfied with the results.
"When you think you are going to win but you lose, it is very difficult to accept it," Tetamashiba said.
" They just want to do and say something that will save their face."
Source: Xinhua
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