Hakainde Hichilema Takes Early Lead in Zambia's General Election Amid Allegations of Armed Raid

Zambia's incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has taken an early lead in the country's general election, putting him on course for a possible outright first-round victory. The opposition has alleged that armed raids may have affected voting patterns in some areas, casting doubt on the fairness of the result. Hichilema's FUPDEP party is expected to dominate the vote, with a projected majority seen as all but certain. The outcome of the election remains to be confirmed, with officials announcing final results in coming days.