FORMER president Edgar Lungu conceded defeat nine hours after the release of the final results of the August 12 polls on 16 August, 2021, the European Observation Mission Final report has revealed.
Meanwhile, the EU notes that six presidential candidates issued a joint letter to Lungu citing the unequal conditions they competed in and asking him to accept the results and concede defeat.
The report disclosed that Lungu only accepted defeat the same day he met with his political rival Hakainde Hichilema on (August 16, 2021) and held talks.
The talks were held at former president Rupiah Banda’s residence in Lusaka’s Lilayi area.
Tanzania’s former president Jakaya Kikwete and, Ernest Bai Koroma, the former president of Sierra Leone attended the talks.
However, what was discussed in the meeting is still under lock and key.
The report further highlighted that immediately after the announcement of results, the State-run ZNBC TV changed its tone and started giving more coverage to the President-elect, Hichilema than ever before.
The EU further observed that the same change of coverage was also observed on online media pages which previously served the interests of the PF.
“In a 14 August statement, the incumbent president (Lungu) claimed that the elections were “not free and fair”, referring to violence and intimidation in North-Western, Western and Southern Provinces.
President Lungu accused the opposition of attacking PF party agents, who could not protect the vote, thus rendering “the whole exercise a nullity,” reads the report.
“The statement came out as early results indicated a lead for candidate Hakainde Hichilema. President Lungu claims were refuted by statements of domestic observers, civil society and legal organisations.”
The report adds that in his inauguration speech, President-elect Hichilema emphasised the importance of national unity and pledged to “foster a better democracy.”
