Zambia’s opposition leader rejects president’s claims election is rigged

Hakainde Hichilema's party is ahead in early results and Edgar Lungu looks likely to lose presidency

Zambia's official opposition, UPND, said on Saturday it was time to unite the country and urged people not to heed President Edgar Lungu's statement that the presidential and parliamentary elections were not free and fair.

The leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema, had taken an early lead against Lungu on Saturday as results rolled in.