Only Mauritius is classified as fully democratic in Africa. A few other African countries are flawed democracies while the rest of the continent is an authoritarian sprawl. Zambia, one of Africa’s flawed democracies, although touted as stable, is facing another test. The presidential election in the country kickstarted today and is expected to be a tight race between opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema making his sixth run for the presidency and incumbent Edgard Lungu that may provoke a political crisis. This article by Farai Mutsaka is published by the Associated Press. Here is an excerpt:

Zambia’s standing as one of Africa’s most stable democracies is being tested this week in the vote in which President Edgar Lungu is seeking re-election.

A tight race is expected and some analysts say the presidential poll may provoke a political crisis in the southern African country.

Lungu’s detractors say he has systematically restricted democratic freedoms by closing some media outlets, detaining opposition politicians and targeting critics. His rule has taken Africa’s second-largest copper producer to “the brink of a human rights crisis,” Human Rights Watch alleged in June.

Read the full article here.