Counting of ballot papers has commenced in the Luangwa Ward By-elections in Chama North Constituency in Eastern Province .

The counting of votes at Ng’anjo Polling station commenced soon after closure of the polling station at 18:00 hours by the Presiding Officer Danny Chilembo.

At Ng’anjo Polling station a total of 281 out of the 433 registered voters had casted their votes by closure of the polling station.

And Luangwa ward Returning Officer (RO) Lyford Kumwenda confirmed to ZANIS in an interview that all the four (4) polling stations closed at 18:00 hrs.

Mr Kumwenda said communication challenges was the main hitch in collecting figures of total cast by closure from the other three (3) polling stations.

He mentioned the three (3) as Kasempwe, Kambowe and Kankhomba respectively.

Meanwhile the RO added that all is set for the totaling centre at Ng’anjo totaling centre.

Mr Kumwenda further mentioned that the commission is hopefully that all the results will be in, in time despite the poor road network.