LUSAKA - President Hakainde Hichilema says he has continued to receive encouraging election results following Thursday's voting.
President Hichilema also said he has continued to receive reports of peace, unity and solidarity across the country as the votes are being counted.
"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," he shared on his Facebook page.
Meanwhile, representative of the ruling party's National Management Committee Mulambo Haimbe said the early indications from the ongoing vote counting were encouraging for President Hichilema.
Mr Haimbe said trends being reported from tallying centres pointed to a strong result for the incumbent President.
"Turnout has been high in Southern, Western and North-Western Provinces. The picture in Central Province is favourable, we are seeing gains for the President in Northern Province. Overall turnout appears to be settling closer to the Zambian norm," explained Haimbe.
However, the party stressed that the information it had shared represented early indications and not election results.
"Under our Constitution, only the Electoral Commission of Zambia has the authority to declare the outcome of a presidential election. The UPND has declared nothing and will declare nothing. We will wait for the ECZ, and we call on all parties, candidates and supporters to do the same," he said.
Mr Haimbe cautioned against unverified claims of victory circulating in some quarters, saying such claims had no source, data or methodology and were detrimental to the country.
"Every party had agents at polling stations who signed the official results forms and the law provides a clear process for tabulation and for the resolution of any grievance. We trust that leaders on all sides share our view that no one should announce results, and that the Commission must be allowed to complete its constitutional mandate of collation, verification and announcement without pressure from any quarter," said Haimbe.
Mr Haimbe further said Zambia had delivered a peaceful, orderly and well-administered election, which he said had been praised by observers and acknowledged by figures across the political divide.
He said the campaign had been open to all sides and that challenges that arose were addressed swiftly.
The UPND has since called on citizens to exercise patience and restraint, respect the conclusion of the democratic process and allow the ECZ to complete its work.
Source: Kalemba