Vote counting continues up north

—Counting of ballot papers for the January 20 Presidential by-election has continued in Chinsali district of Muchinga province.

Chinsali Central Constituency Returning Officer, Jonathan Phiri, told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) this morning that results have continued coming to the totalling centre since last night.

Mr Phiri, however, said the process slowed down a bit this morning because some vehicles, which went to pick up officers and materials, were stuck on the way due to the bad state of roads.

He said so far results have been received from 50 polling stations out of 60.

The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) so far gotten 7,600 from the counted 50 polling stations while United Party for National Development ( UPND) Hakainde Hichilema has 322 votes, followed by the MMD with 138 votes.

Elias Chipimo of NAREP has 85 votes, Dan Pule of CDP has 36, Erick Chanda of 4^th  Revolution Party 34,UNIP’s Tilyenji Chanda Kaunda 29 with Heritage Party leader, Godfrey Miyanda, getting 18, Edith Nawakwi of FDD 12,Ludwing Sondashi of FDA 6 and Green Party president Peter Sinkamba with only 4 votes.

Mr Phiri said more results are expected later in the day today.

Elsewhere, in Nakonde Constituency PF candidate, Edgar Lungu, has gotten 6,133 votes from results received from 56 polling stations out of 65, UPND Hakainde Hichilema has 1,220 votes, FDD Edith Nawakwi has 362, MMD Nevers Mumba 158, UNIP Tilyenji Kaunda 62, 4^th Revolution Party’s Erick 55 Dan  Pule, of CDP, 35, and NAREP’s Heritage Party’s Godfrey Miyanda 24.

Green Party’s Peter Sinkamba has 21 and FDA Ludwing Sondashi, seven votes only.

Nakonde Constituency Returning Officer, Crispine Kasemuka, said results from the remaining nine polling stations were expected to be ready later this afternoon.

In Shiwangándu Constituency results from the 38 polling stations out of 60 received so far  the ruling Patriotic Front ( PF) Edgar Lungu has 3, 951 votes, UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, 162, FDD’s Edith Nawakwi, 62,MMD’s Nevers Mumba, 25, 4^th Revolution Party’s, Erick Chanda, 23 and UNIP Tilyenji Kaunda 15 votes.

Heritage Godfrey Miyanda has 15 votes, Dan Pule of the CDP, 11, FDA’s Ludwig Sondashi, 6 and Green Party’s Peter Sinkamba, two votes.

Shiwangandu Constituency Retuning Officer, Rosemary Mulemena, said results from the remaining 12 polling stations were expected to arrive later in the afternoon.

In Isoka, results have been received so far from 41 polling stations out of 49.

The ruling PF’s Edgar Lungu has 4,499 votes followed by UPND Hakainde Hichilema with 974, with FDD’s Edith Nawakwi, 370, UNIP Tilyenji Kaunda 58, 4^th Revolution Party of Erick Chanda, 36 Heritage Party’s Godfrey Miyanda, 49 and NAREP’s Elias Chipimo, 31 votes.

Ludwig Sondashi of the FDA got 13, CDP’s Dan Pule five and Green Party’s Peter Sinkamba one vote only.

Isoka Returning Officer, Godwin Maseka, said bad roads have affected the transportation of officers and election materials to the totalling centre.

Mr Maseka, however, said all the results from the nine remaining polling stations were expected later in the afternoon today.

In Mafinga, results from the 26 polling stations where voting took place are as follows:

PF’s Edgar Lungu, 2,506, UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, 549 votes, FDD Edith Nawakwi, 105, the 4^th  Revolution Party of Erick Chanda got 67 votes, CDP’s Dan Pule, 34 and NAREP’s Elias Chipimo, 22 votes.

Nevers Mumba of the MMD got 22 votes, FDA’s Ludwig Sondashi, 19, Heritage Party of Godfrey Miyanda, 12 and Green Party five votes only.

Mafinga Returning Officer, Isaac Simutowe, also disclosed that voting in some polling stations has just commenced today after the air lifting of election materials and election officers by the Zambia Air force (ZAF) helicopters.

Mafinga has a total of 69 polling stations.