HAKAINDE HICHILEMA LEADS AS ECZ RELEASES FIRST RESULTS
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has officially released the first consolidated results for the presidential election.
Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has taken an early lead as tallies trickle in from the national results centre.
In an official briefing to update the nation on the collation process, ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaoulomis announced results from four of the 226 constituencies.
Hichilema leads the opening tally with 22,476 votes.
His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, follows with 14,388 votes.
The ECZ Chairperson announced a temporary adjournment in the live result announcements.
The Commission will resume formal result updates by 09:00 hours on Saturday morning.
Additional constituency results are expected to be verified and presented by then.