FACEBOOK, WhatsApp and Twitter have remained restricted for citizens who are using local area networks to access the Internet.
And the counting of votes is underway across the country with some ‘unexpected’ results in some polling stations.
The government shut down social media networks in the afternoon on August 12 while people queued up to cast their votes, prompting netizens mostly the youths and first time voters to switch to virtual private networks in order to follow election related news.
No government official has given an explanation on the switching down of social media platforms and the unprecedented intervention has seen a massive redaction in social media traffic and incident reporting.
A major incident occurred in North Western Province where one PF official was hacked to death, prompting a statement from the incumbent President who did not only condemned the development but also lamented that “elections have not been free and fair in the Western and Southern region”.
Meanwhile, the counting of votes has progressed slowly but steadily at regional totaling centers with no major interruptions or incidences reported so far.
A News Diggers monitoring crew reported a slight edge in favour of the opposition UPND from the sampling of polling stations announced at the Lusaka Province totaling center.
From verified results recorded at Kabulonga Boys Secondray Schools polling station One, Hakainde Hichilema polled 432 out of 663 valid votes counted, while the incumbent Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front trailed with 214.
The rest of the 14 presidential candidates only managed between zero and three votes, with 4 spoiled ballots.
Parliamentary results from St Mary’s School One showed that UPND’s Haimbe Mulambo polled 166 votes better than former PF MP Margaret Mwanakatwe with 379 and 213 respectively.
The election results sampling in Lusaka also exhibited a two horse race characteristic at parliamentary and Mayoral level, as other party candidates only managed less than 20 per cent of the votes collectively.
Other unverified results whose figures we are unable to publish owing to new electoral laws, show that the UPND has a slight edge over the ruling party.
Notable among other results are some polling stations in Eastern Province where the Head of State has been narrowly defeated. The ‘unexpected’ preliminary results, yet to be confirmed by the commission also show that the opposition UPND has won some major polling stations on the Copperbelt and the northern block, specifically Nakonde.
It is however, too early to tell which way the election will turn out as the restricted sharing of information is expected to further slow down the process.
Updated August 13 at 07:00 hours
29 responses
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions during such a pivotal moment in Zambia’s elections. Transparency is crucial for fair democratic processes. Hoping for clarity and fairness as the UPND leads in early results.
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions during such a critical time in the election process. Transparency is vital for democracy, and I hope the situation improves as results come in. The slight edge for UPND could lead to significant changes; it will be interesting to see how this unfolds in the coming days.
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions during such a critical time. Transparency is crucial for building trust in the election process. Hopefully, these early results reflect the will of the people. Looking forward to more updates!
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions during such a critical time in Zambia’s election process. Open communication is essential for transparency and democracy. I hope the UPND’s slight edge in the early results leads to a peaceful outcome and that all voices can be heard in the coming days.
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions during such an important time for Zambia’s democracy. Transparency is key in elections, and I hope the UPND’s slight edge can translate into meaningful progress for the country. Let’s keep the conversation going!
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions during such a critical time for Zambia’s democracy. Freedom of expression is vital for an informed electorate, especially as results start to come in. I hope for a transparent and fair election process that reflects the will of the people.
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions during such a crucial time for Zambia’s democracy. The slight edge for UPND is interesting, but I hope these results will be transparent and reflect the will of the people. Let’s hope for a peaceful and fair election process moving forward!
It’s concerning to see social media restrictions amidst such a crucial time for the elections in Zambia. Transparency and access to information are vital for a fair democratic process. I hope the UPND can maintain its slight edge and that all voices can be heard in these pivotal moments.
The restriction of social media during such an important election period highlights the growing tension between information control and public access to news. Despite the shutdown, citizens still found ways to stay informed, showing how important digital platforms have become in modern democracy and election transparency.