Zambia’s electoral commission has suspended the counting of votes from Thursday’s presidential and parliamentary elections over alleged attacks on polling staff.

The authority said the process would be halted with immediate effect nationwide as it expressed concern over reports of violence that had “resulted in the theft of marked ballot papers in ballot boxes”.

President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second five-year term. Brian Mundubile is the main opposition candidate among 13 challengers .

Legally the electoral commission has until the end of Sunday to announce the outcome.

In Friday’s statement the commission said it would review the decision to suspend vote counting within the next 24 hours.

Polling day was largely peaceful, with queues reported in many areas and only isolated delays. Along with electing a president and MPs, the more than eight million registered voters had the chance to choose a new parliament and local councils.

Thursday’s vote was seen as a test of Zambia’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, amid concerns that political freedoms are being undermined.