Zambian presidential challenger claims election fraud

Lusaka (AFP) - Zambia's main challenger to President Edgar Lungu on Friday alleged electoral fraud, accusing the election commission of colluding with the ruling Patriotic Front to delay announcing the election results, a day after voting.

"The ECZ (Electoral Commission of Zambia) is somehow conniving with people in the political arena to delay the release of results so that PF thugs armed with guns take over the polling stations at night and write fake results," United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Hakainde Hichilema told journalists.

"They are trying to generate the results."

The allegations come after the campaigns by the two leading candidates were marred by violence in a country known for its relative stability.

At least three people were killed during the campaign, with regular clashes erupting between Patriotic Front (PF) and UPND activists.

The commission earlier stated that the unrest was "unprecedented" and had "marred Zambia's historic record of peaceful elections".

After a calm day of voting Thursday, early results were expected Friday -- with the complete tally due out at the weekend.

But a scheduled briefing on Friday was repeatedly delayed, leaving voters anxious.

Hichilema urged his supporters to stay peaceful.

"What is going on is collusion between the PF, police and the ECZ to steal this result especially presidential results," he said.

"Don't fall into their trap to be driven into violence"

Fewer than 28,000 votes separated Lungu and wealthy businessman Hichilema in a snap 2015 ballot that brought Lungu to power.

Constitutional changes mean that the winner must now secure more than 50 percent of the vote, pointing to a possible second round run-off.