OBSERVER missions reported widespread intimidation, violence and abductions during last week’s Zambian elections.

Calls for a toning down of rhetoric came from observers, including those from the Southern African Development Community and the European Union, as Thursday’s votes continued to be counted.

Vote counting was temporarily suspended on Friday following reports of violence against polling staff and the alleged theft of ballot papers.

Counting resumed hours later after the electoral commission said the “security threat to the electoral process had been contained,” said Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from the capital, Lusaka.

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term at the head of the governing United Party for National Development.

His main challenger is a former minister in the previous Patriotic Front government, Brian Mundubile, who is running as the opposition candidate for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity.

Mr Mundubile said the suspension “raises legitimate fears,” warning that the delay in counting could “create an opportunity for interference with manipulation of results.”

Samuel Tembenu, a former Malawian justice minister who leads the regional Sadc observer team, said they are urging “all contestants, their supporters, and all stakeholders to remain calm.”