Zambians are voting in presidential and parliamentary elections, with more than eight million registered voters expected to cast their ballots.
Polling opened at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT), with some stations reporting delays, and is scheduled to close at 18:00.
The election is being closely watched as a test of Zambia’s reputation as one of Africa’s more stable democracies, amid concerns over political freedoms, unemployment and the rising cost of living.
President Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is seeking a second five-year term after winning the 2021 election on his sixth attempt. Fourteen candidates are contesting the presidency, although the race is largely viewed as a contest between Hichilema and his main challenger, former minister Brian Mundubile.
Mundubile’s alliance has attracted support from some backers of the late former President Edgar Lungu, whose death and unresolved burial dispute have added to political tensions.
Hichilema is campaigning on his government’s economic record, including debt restructuring, a stronger currency, lower inflation and infrastructure development. However, his administration has faced criticism over alleged restrictions on rights and freedoms ahead of the election.
