Zambia's President Edgar Lungu declared election winner

Zambia's President Edgar Lungu has been re-elected, according to official results, which are being challenged by the main opposition party. 

The electoral commission said Mr Lungu had secured 50.35% in Thursday's vote, just over the 50% threshold needed to avoid a second round under a new electoral system. His main rival, Hakainde Hichilema, who alleges electoral fraud, won 47.67%.

Earlier, his UPND party withdrew from the ballot verification process.

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A loud cheer went up from Mr Lungu's supporters as the victory was announced at the electoral commission headquarters in the capital Lusaka. The UPND has accused the electoral commission of colluding with the governing Patriotic Front (PF) to rig the result.

"We have evidence to the effect that the votes for Hakainde Hichilema have been deliberately reduced in collusion with the Electoral Commission of Zambia," UPND lawyer Jack Mwiimbu told journalists.

"We have confidence that the constitutional court will rise above board and declare the results a nullity."
The PF has rejected the allegations.

Election officials also denied the fraud claims, saying the slow publication of the results was because there were five different votes on Thursday - for president, parliament, mayors, local councillors and an amendment to the constitution on changes to the bill of rights.

Mr Lungu defeated Mr Hichilema in the previous election, last year, by less than 28,000 votes. This time, his margin of victory was about 200,000 votes.

Last year's election was held because President Michael Sata died in office, the second time a serving leader has died in Zambia in the past five years. The constitution has now been amended so that the vice-president automatically takes office if a sitting president dies.