TONSE presidential spokesperson George Chisanga says Brian Mundubile did not declare himself the winner of the presidential election, arguing that his statement was based on results from the party’s Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT).

Earlier in the day, Mundubile had made a public address in which he claimed that he had won the election, a statement which the Electoral Commission of Zambia said was an offence.

Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has called on the country to remain patient and patriotic as they await official results from the ECZ.

In a Facebook Live, Mundubile said the party’s Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT) showed that he had won the election, adding that the delay in announcing the results could create room for interference or manipulation.

“According to the results received and compiled through our Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), based on information transmitted to us from polling stations and totalling centers across the country, our tabulation indicates that we have won this election. The pattern of reports reaching us raises legitimate fears that this delay could create an opportunity for interference with and manipulation of the results. We call for the immediate publication of the results in accordance with the law and for all stakeholders to be given access to relevant electoral records so that the will of the Zambian people is respected,” said Mundubile.

However, Chisanga said Mundubile understood the law, adding that he was aware of who was responsible for declaring a victor in a presidential election.

“Mundubile is a seasoned lawyer, he’s a political leader of very respectable standing. He knows the responsibility that starts and ends with his office. He knows who has the responsibility and the statutory mandate to declare a victor in the presidential election. This responsibility resides with the returning officer for the presidential election, who at all times is the Chief Justice. What Honourable Mundubile has stated is that the information that has been made available to his office by those who are carrying out a credible PVT has shown clearly that from the total votes that have been collected so far, he is ahead of all the other presidential contestants,” said Chisanga.

“And he has called upon the ECZ to carry out the statutory mandate that they have and ensure that they protect the vote and that they don’t disrupt the will of the Zambian people. That is not equivalent of declaring yourself as the winner of the election. We understand what makes these people begin to accuse a contestant in an important election, presidential election, of committing an offense, and then you choose an offense, treason. It’s because somebody behind you would like to achieve a narrative that they would like to use to subjugate the rights not only of the contestant in the election, but of those who woke up in the morning, early in the morning on that day, and waited from counting in the morning to counting in the night waiting to cast the vote, and they cast the vote on Brian Mundubile”.

And in a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Friday, President Hichilema said it was encouraging to see reports of peace and unity across the country.

“We continue to receive encouraging results and reports of peace, unity and solidarity across our country as the votes come in. There is much in this moment to be grateful for. Let us remain peaceful, patient and patriotic as we await the official outcome from those entrusted with managing the vote,” said President Hichilema.