The Zambians are frozen in fear of violence that is likely to erupt after a court ruling today on the substantive case in an election petition filed by the main opposition.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) filed the petition challenging the re-election of Edgar Lungu in Zambia’s August 11 polls. They said the poll was rigged by the government with collusion from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ.)

Following such fear that engulfing every citizen of Zambia, the three Zambian church groups have called for peace ahead of an anticipated court ruling on the opposition’s challenge to the results of the August 11 presidential election

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, the Council of Churches in Zambia and the Catholic Bishops Conference called on leaders of the opposition  UPND and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party to ensure their supporters do not engage in acts of violence after the court’s ruling.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Edgar Lungu the winner of the presidential election with 50.35 percent of the total votes cast, compared to 47.67 percent for the main opposition candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, of the UPND.

But the UPND petitioned the Constitutional Court to reject the result, citing alleged voter irregularities and fraud.