Zambia’s electoral commission resumed the counting of ballots on Friday following a temporary suspension of the process. The pause was initiated in response to reports of attacks directed at polling staff and the theft of marked ballot papers during the post-election period. These incidents occurred just one day after citizens cast their votes in both presidential and parliamentary races.

While the counting process is now back underway, the political atmosphere remains tense. Opposition leader Brian Mundubile has already publicly claimed victory, a move that precedes the official announcement of results by the electoral commission. The situation has drawn international attention, with analysts like Sishuwa Sishuwa of Stellenbosch University providing context on the volatile nature of the current electoral environment. The commission has not yet provided a definitive timeline for when the final results will be released, as they work to secure the remaining ballots and ensure the integrity of the count following the reported disruptions.