Polls Open In Zambia Presidential Election As Hichilema’s Economic Reforms Face Test

Polls have opened in Zambia’s presidential election, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term amid growing concerns over the cost of living and the impact of his economic reforms.
Voting began at 6am local time (04:00 GMT) on Thursday and is expected to close 12 hours later, with about 8.7 million registered voters eligible to cast their ballots.
The election is widely seen as a test of whether Hichilema’s economic policies have delivered enough improvement to overcome widespread public frustration over high food and energy prices.
According to World Bank data, more than 70 per cent of Zambia’s estimated 22 million population live on less than $3 a day.
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