AUEOM urges all parties in Zambia to use legal channels to address disputes

The African Union Election Observation Mission says the Zambian elections satisfactorily met the continental and regional principles of democratic elections. Hailing the elections as generally peaceful, the AUEOM urged all parties to resort to legally established channels should there be a dispute on the outcome of the process. Zambian President Edgar Lungu won re-election, in a vote his main rival Hakainde Hichilema rejected on claims of rigging by the electoral commission. Lungu faced a tough challenge from Hichilema to rule over Africa's second-largest copper producer, which has suffered from an economic slump due to depressed commodity prices.