Opposition misses deadline for election challenge

Zambia will press on with swearing in its president, Edgar Lungu, for another five-year-term next week, after the opposition missed a deadline to challenge his re-election, a senior official said on Monday.
Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema had filed a petition in constitutional court last month, saying the Aug. 11 vote was rigged and Lungu’s victory should be annulled.
But he missed a Friday deadline to present evidence to back up his charge, and the top court ruled on Monday not to extend the time limit.
Hichilema’s UPND party said it rejected the ruling.
Lungu, who won 50.35 percent of the vote according to the official results, will take the oath of office on Tuesday next week, later than the original Aug. 23 date, cabinet secretary Roland Msiska said.