Zambians went to the polls on Thursday to elect their new president in a battle that has pitted incumbent Edgar Lungu to opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for the third time in less than seven years.
Voters thronged polling stations across the country in their thousands as they seek to elect the next leader of the copper producing Southern African nation.
Investors are keenly watching the polls, with reports indicating that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) support, already broadly agreed, is on hold until after the vote.
President Lungu is banking on his government’s infrastructure development record to earn him another term in the top seat.
![[FILES] British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing. Photo/acebook/catriona.laing.5](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Catriona-Laing-1062x598-1-120x86.jpg "UK supporting Nigeria to deliver credible elections in 2023 – High commissioner 5")
On his part, Hichilema hopes his third attempt at beating Lungu will yield positive fruits, having failed to beat the incumbent in the 2015 by-election and the 2016 presidential election.
In total, the opposition leader has contested and lost five presidential elections.
Analysts expect a close election between the two, with others predicting none will obtain a clear win in the first round of voting.
Although the two are considered to be the favorites in the election, 14 other candidates are contesting the presidential vote.
If no candidate obtains the required 50 percent or more of the vote in the first round of the polls, the top two candidate march on for a run-off vote where each will only require a simple majority to win.
The run-off must be held within 37 days.
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