ANGOLANS AWAIT ELECTION RESULTS

The Presidency has reportedly pressed pause on the release of the preliminary results after a crisis meeting in the early hours of the morning.

The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola presidential candidate Joao Lourenco casts his vote in Luanda, on August 23, 2017 during the general elections. Picture: AFP

Leanne de Bassompierre
Eyewitness News

LUANDA - Angolans are still awaiting preliminary election results after polling stations closed on Wednesday night.

Citizens voted to elect a new a leader for the first time in nearly 40 years.

There were no major incidents reported on Wednesday, but tensions are rising.

Preliminary results were expected to be released from early on Thursday, but the presidency has reportedly pressed pause following a crisis meeting in the early hours of the morning.

Local investigative journalist Rafael Marquez claims that the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and main opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita) are on 40% each in Luanda, without the vote tally from populous areas around the capital.

Marquez has been a thorn in the side of government, exposing high-level corruption and he's even been jailed.

Meanwhile, head of the election commission Andre da Silva Neto says Wednesday was an example of how elections should be carried out in any part of the world.

There were more than 1,400 international and local election observers, including large delegations from the African Union and Southern African Development Community.