official opening of Parliament.
A large number of British High Commission staff observed the elections yesterday across the country. I personally did observation in part of Lusaka. And we have compared notes with other Embassies doing observation.
My colleagues and I have been enormously impressed by the professionalism of the Electoral Commission of Zambia. From what we saw, the presiding officers and other staff in the polling stations did an excellent job. This was recognised by the party agents and domestic observers to whom we spoke at the polling stations which we visited. They reported few problems.
I note that the statement this morning by the Christian Churches Monitoring Group is also very complimentary about the conduct of the election.
I believe that Zambia can be truly proud of the ECZ. Obviously the weather has created significant logistical challenges for the ECZ. It seems to us that they are addressing these appropriately, including by arranging for voting today in some areas.
They have said that the final result may not be declared until Friday or later. We will all need to be patient and to remain calm until they are able to do so.
James Thornton, High Commissioner
Isn’t it a bit too early for the High Commissioner to pay such a comment. Wait until the work is finished and the you can comment.
Or are you indirectly reminding them that you sponsored the elections and that you expect the results to reflect the truth? Then you comment may somehow be welcome.
Viva #Peacefulnation.
chizungu….shud read to MAKE such a comment.
He is talking about the truth—- what he has seen so far. So dear there is no excuse that the elections have been rigged. Tell your HH-UPND to concede defeat period.
Pretty
Too early,?????
Are you not aware of what’s happening on the ground? That’s what happens when you do Politics behind a keyboard….you can’t win.
PF is winning big time
I thank you
@Pretty
Mukashana, you shouldn’t worry about small things like that, it happens to all of us all the time. People can always piece together the missing parts of a jigsaw puzzle if their brain is not lazy.
The important thing at this very moment is transparency in this election. It has to be completely free and fair and seen to be so. We want the looser, who ever it’s going to be, to accept the result without misgivings, that it’s the majority Zambian who have rejected him or her. We don’t want to see any cloud of suspicion hovering above ECZ.
The sooner HH realized that the will of the people is the voice of God and that the ballot verdict is relative to voters’ confidence level in candidates, the sooner brother HH may realize some hearing. Winning elections is not about how much you showed up on the campaign trail and flattery yiu get in opinion polls, but about driving a successful connecting campaign that win voter confidence. Its called democracy.
Indisputably voters have settled for settled for a totally new entrant to Presidential politics discarding careerist polititicians considered veteran ballot rejects. EL 1 month in the race then elected to the Presidency only manifests the voters’ resolve for fresh politics of consensus leadership. We are tired of acrimonious campaigns of character assassinations, hatred and tribalism. Congrats President Lungu on this deserved mandate to lead and serve every Zambian in harmony. Let democracy reign!
Pretty
Did you vote!? or you were busy commenting!!!
Your vote could have made a very big difference but too bad you can’t vote on your laptop or cellphone or ipad.
Next time Please get on the plane and come back home and vote.
ONE EDGAR HAS JUST WON THE ELECTIONS
I thank you
@Katondo boys,
Cudn’t vote as ECZ announced they’d be using 2011 voters reg. But will be voting come 2016.
Am still waiting for official results.
Now you are not vehemently supporting HH? The day has come, I told you so. I told you it would not even be close. Edgar Lungu is the 6th President of Zambia.
A regional party wins only wins in a region. I quote Edgar Lungu “mulekeni, tukamusepa!”
@1 ARE YOU ON THE LOSING SIDE? ECZ IS HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL AND IT HAS HONORABLE PUBLIC SERVANTS. RIGGING WAS BURIED WITH THE DEFEAT OF MMD BY PF. SATA DID A LOT OF CLEANING SWEEPING ZAMBIA AND OTHERS ARE JUST FOLLOWING THE STANDARDS LEFT BY SATA.
@Pretty
It isnt too early as the opinion expressed is based on the historical conduct of the ECZ heading upto and including the current elections.
Anyone with an open mind (considering that all political parties have had no expressed concerns until now) will arrive at the same conclusion. HH’s gambles are rooted in the realisation that he is loosing the elections and the only “excuse” he can rely upon is to point his finger at PF and the institutions charged with the process. Whatelse can he say? He wont admit that he is not as popular as he thinks he is. Sata did the same and only praised the ECZ when he won the 2011 elections. HH is no different despite his claims of being principled.
In conclusion the only institution we cant be proud of as Zambians is that of the executive
Oh Yes these people will only open their Mouth where there is Money involved, its because of their investment in ECZ thats it.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR THORNTON..WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT..INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND EVEN THE VERY ANALYTICAL BRITISH HAVE DISPELLED UPND’S FALSE AND DESPERATE CALLS OF RIGGING…
BA ZAMBIA WE LOVE YOU
NOMBA NI EL2016
What is your comment on the refusal by ZAF to allow UPND helicopters to fly?
The continued release of results when other areas were voting,you call that professional?
You are impressed just because your fellow muzungu has been in charge and you turn a blind eye on the behavior of the EL de drunk’s foul mouth and violence against the opposition leader.
OMG – who asked you? can’t imagine a the zambian HC in London taking such a liberty whilst elections are in progress in the UK; don’t be Storella the Second, Mr Thornton…the majority of zambians have livelihoods at stake for crying out loud !! NON OF YO BUSINESS! qed
Ba Charlie Diaspora
So you thought HH would win these elections…!?
HH has been beaten and this signals the end of his political career……
ONE EDGAR HAS JUST WON THE ELECTIONS
I thank you
Well, they v funded the election, so they own it, what you pay for is yours really
British High Commissioner you need to take it easy, your comments seem to have come a bit too early. It would be at odds if tomorrow you find a different picture. Be diplomatic and comment when asked or last.
Naysayers….the game is over…..bola naipwa…
Kateka naishibikwa kale….
HH has done an amazing job in the Southern Province…
Edgar CB,LSK,Eastern,Muchinga,
Northern,Luapula,Central
I thank you
I am personally disappointed with ECZ’s disorganisation.
The voter turnout was very low, and with the availability of technology, they should have improved on the running of the elections and release of results.
What is going to happen in the 2016 general elections, which will be much bigger than this particular one?
What is the point of investing in technology if you cannot use it properly? Zambians should have finished voting yesterday, and the results should have been released today. Finished!
The excuses are lame. Judge yourselves ECZ, and improve. Don’t pat yourselves on the back.
We already know the winner, which results are you talking about?
Who doesn`t know that EL is the President of Zambia.
HH will win on Sunday on Muvtv 16:30 main news during
opinion polls segment by 84%, EL will be second on 15%.
Please appreciate what ECZ has done and still doing.
If you can`t then continue appreciating Muvtv opinion
polls.
HH should start celebrating…he has done well in the Southern Province.
ONE EDGAR HAS JUST WON THE ELECTIONS
I thank you
Mwewo akatondo mutekanye…I take agro when a foreign diplomat reminds me of Storella and his maschinations which gave us “full Monty-donchi kubeba” – Sata is no more and the mess hits the poorest of the masses pa zed. If you think zambia can continue on this road since 9-11, then sorry! the challenges of the next 10 years worldwide will require a sober-headed dextrous-minded president – good luck all the same if u think pf has that calibre; pity the masses though, they simply want to get on with their lives in an enabling environment !
Just goes to prove what many believe – Sata was the instigator of violence…….
The results are well known. Not a chance of rigging. It’s about time that all losing parties focuses on the voters
The chief rigger is vj, but failed
ECZ must not be pushed by the loser HH and UPND. I notice that ECZ has been getting instructions from UPND right from day 1. You all remember that they harassed innocent truck drivers and even threatened to burn those trucks on suspicion, they were embarrassed.
Today, HH see that he is headed for a serious defeat, commands them and they accept.
We all know that Edgar Lungu has won these elections and if and if for some reason, ECZ makes a mistake of changing the results, where does ECZ think this country will end up?
Madam Mambilima, be tough and follow the law. Why suspend announcement of results just to satisfy a know losing candidate?
This is timely warning. Remember Copperbelt, Lusaka, Northern, Luapula, Eastern, Muchinga and Central are all in favour of Edgar Lungu, ….
Cool down, EL is the President of Zambia, they just want to
comfort HH.
BUT THERE WAS VOTER APATHY THERE BIG TIME. LOOK AT WHERE LARGEST VOTER PARTICIPATION WAS RECORDED.
JUST RELAX AND FEEL THE HEAT OF LOSING WHEN YOU WERE DECEIVED BY YOUR CALCULATED ZNBC RELEASES OF RESULTS.
I am missing Guy Scott already
I told u stop dreaming of winning national elections.Start as a section chairman ,then councilor and MP.U said am Mad.I have been vindicated.
Ichigumula or ichimwela type of voting will not help develop Zambia.El de drunk is not presidential material
Tomorrow the mines will be closing,the farmers will jot palent on time,the students will not be paid bursaries,the women will be delivering on the floor,then what next?chigumula mentality will not answer those questions
.Some were just shouting ifintu ni ka lungu and then just voting without even thinking.
Zambia is headed for doom and gloom.mark my word
HH OVER-PROMISING
HH OVER FORWARDING
HALEISA HALEISA HALUBA
one Edgar
I thank you
Be careful only from 13 constituencies election results has been announced officially by ECZ. On the other announcement of results has been stopped by Acting President Guy Scot because voting is still going. That can easily influence the voters who still need to cast their votes. So far Lungu has recorded 92,026 votes whilst HH has 44,902 follow Mumba who got only 1,999 votes. Trailing is Sondashi with only 136 votes. Unfortunate Chipimo and Nawakwi have faired badly. Edith scoring only 1333 from the 13 constituencies. The announcement of results will conntinue tomorrow at 10:00 hrs.
Just in:
Eastern Province results to wipe out UPND lead in the Southern Province
Yaba…….agony
ONE EDGAR
I thank you
@Katondo UPND is winning this election with a BIGGER margin. ITS A PSYCHOLOGY which is being done here.
I am 90% sure UPND is winning with a BIGGER margin.
It takes a lot of gut to assume UPND will win this election. UPND will perform well in Southern, N. Western and Western Provinces but will not assurp the lead that PF has drawn in Copperbelt Province. Not to mention, the PF has scooped Lusaka by a margin of 65%-35%. The results will not turn positive for HH or anyone else. What has been exhibited is a clear rejection of regional politics.
What has been at display is not regional politics but lack of vision and foresight by the majority of Zambians.
False accusations and lies that HH is a satanist was evil.We call ourselves a christian nation and yet we are busy judging and accusing people wrongly.
Lies will not develop Zambia.HH is a proven economic manager.He will not go to state house to steal.What he said ,he will deliver.
Cont..
Cont..
I am beginning to join the ever increasing calls for North and South West Zambia to breakaway from Zambia,Let the CB,Lusaka and their eastern regions join together.
It’s not about regional politics any more but a ganging up against any presidential candidates from the Northwest and South West Zambia.Look at Arthur Wina.He could have been president but the regional tribal north decided to adopt kafupi.
WE CALL FOR A REFERENDUM
ECZ has really improved over the years. ECZ has grown into a fearless organization, however, it must be noted that this has to be extended to parliamentary by- elections as well.
It’s too early for the British to comment.
I can bet, PF will not concede defeat…Vodka’s stronghold have dried up. Watch the space..Yo u will mourn ba Panga Family
RB has a lot of experience in that area. I mean mourning he will be very useful.
OFFICIAL AND CREDIBLE ELECTION RESULTS UPDATE:
How it all started in the early hours of today 21st January, 2014
=================================================
I have added two critical pictures here to give you detailed insights.
PF set for victory
Edgar Lungu’s surprise alliance with ex-President Banda – which may involve major policy compromises – should carry the day at the polls
The presidential candidate of the governing Patriotic Front, Edgar Lungu, has surprised Zambians by joining forces with former President Rupiah Banda, whose Movement for Multiparty Democracy was defeated by the PF in the 2011 general elections. After unexpectedly being obliged to stand down as a candidate, Banda has put the MMD’s massive store of campaign materials – including four helicopters…….
Anderson Chisala
YOU ARE STILL MY ZAMBIAN FRIEND AND I RESPECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY….WE ARE ALL ONE…..
GOOD TRY,,,,WE NEED A STRONG OPPOSITION…..AND I SALUTE UPND FOR GIVING US A HELL OF A FIGHT…..JOB WELL DONE MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA….I KNOW SOME OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS DID VOTE FOR YOU…..GOD BLESS ZAMBIA
ONE EDGAR NOW LOOKING FOR A 15 TON TRUCK TO HELP HIM MOVE INTO THE STATE HOUSE…..GOD IS GOOD
Katondo boys
i thank you
Wina azalila – again!
I dont think we want to listen to our colonial master commenting about our election body when they used to rule us without elections thereby stealing all our mineral resources. Iwe ka Sonitoni Just shut up and leave us to our own assessments
Ati ka Soni toni kikikikikikiki! Ka mwisa bakasapa!
Zambia can be proud of the ECZ
Well what can we say? The Englishman has spoken. It must be gospel!
oh shut up