• PATRIOTIC Front presidential candidate Edgar Lungu about to cast his vote at Andrew Mwenya polling station in Lusaka’s Chawama Constituency yesterday. He was accompanied by his wife Esther (right). Picture by CLEVER ZULU

By CLEVER ZULU, PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE, SAM PHIRI –

SOME of the candidates in the Presidential election have expressed confidence of scooping the presidency after casting their ballots.
Meanwhile, Acting President Guy Scott yesterday forced management at Mr Price at Manda Hill shopping to close to allow their workers to vote.
PF president Edgar Lungu yesterday cast his vote at Andrew Mwenya polling station in Chawama constituency in Lusaka.
Mr Lungu arrived at the polling station at 10:00 hours amid chants from his supporters who had braved the rains waiting to catch a glimpse of their leader.
The local and international media was on hand and crowded the polling station to cover one of the front-runners in this election.
The PF leader, who was accompanied by his wife Esther, was met by South Africa’s International Relations and Corporation minister and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) observers’ leader Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and her delegation on arrival in John Howard Township.
Mr Lungu was ushered into the polling station by his security personnel as journalists jostled for space to have a clear view of him.
After voting, Mr Lungu said he is confident of winning after voting for himself and that the support from his supporters has been good.
“You can see for yourself the support, I rate my chances high because I have also voted for myself,” he said in a short interview.
Dr Scott directed management at Mr Price Store to close and allow Zambian workers to vote.
Government declared the voting day yesterday, a holiday.
Workers at the store had expressed concern about their management’s decision to make them work when they should have been voting.
Dr Scott, who was accompanied by his wife Charlotte, however, directed Mr Price management to allow their employees to vote.
Earlier, Dr Scott cast his vote at Golf Club where he urged Zambians to turn up in big numbers to vote for their preferred candidate.
Dr Scott said it was unfortunate that the weather was unfriendly due to the rains that characterised part of yesterday morning and it had a potential of hindering voters from voting.
Forum for Democratic Development (FDD) president cast her vote at University of Zambia (UNZA) polling station in Lusaka.
Ms Nawakwi said that she was confident of winning the Presidential elections as her campaign message has been clear.
National Restoration Party (NAREP) president Elias Chipimo Jr cast his vote at State house polling station and urged Zambians to exercise their democratic right to vote.
Mr Chipimo said that despite losing his father, he was compelled to vote to determine the direction of the country.
UPND presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of working with the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu in trying to rig the elections.
This was in the wake of reports that a number of polling stations in Western and North-Western provinces had not received the ballot papers.
The UPND leader who cast his vote at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School at 11:45 hours in the morning alleged that there were no ballot papers in Chavuma West, Mitete, Liuwa and Zambezi West, as late as 10:00 hours in the morning.