By Evanda Roselyn Niamo 
Elections can make people very anxious, and what just happened in southern Africa proves that point clearly. The Electoral Commission of Zambia recently halted vote counting following sudden violence and stolen ballot papers. Citizens naturally panicked when news broke that the process had stopped abruptly.
ECZ chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis quickly stepped in to calm frayed nerves across the country. She announced that security forces contained the threat and allowed officials to resume counting safely. Results started trickling in later that evening to give citizens some peace of mind.
Before the temporary halt, opposition leader Brian Mundubile boldly claimed an early victory in the presidential race. President Hakainde Hichilema urged his supporters to stay calm and peaceful while waiting for official declarations. Both political camps are watching every move as tension builds up nationwide.
Economic hardship played a massive role in driving voters to the polls this year. World Bank data shows that over seventy percent of the population lives on less than three dollars a day. Transparency International Zambia also recorded more than one hundred and fifty violent incidents during the campaign period.
Everybody hopes for a peaceful outcome as the electoral commission wraps up the final tallies. Zambia has a proud history of peaceful power transfers over the decades. Maintaining that democratic record requires patience from every citizen until the final winner emerges.
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Source: Ghananewspage.com