Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema took an early lead as the first results were announced from Thursday’s cliffhanger election.

With results tallied from 15 of the 156 constituencies, Hichilema had 171,604 votes versus President Edgar Lungu’s 110,178, chief electoral officer Kryticous Nshindano said Saturday. Total valid votes counted so far are 287,996, he said. The partial count may not be an accurate indication of the final outcome, which is expected to be announced within three days.

In 2016, initial results from urban centers showed Lungu, 64, well ahead of Hichilema, 59, in what was ultimately a close race that the opposition United Party for National Development claimed was rigged. Its legal challenge was thrown out of the Constitutional Court after the party’s lawyers ran out of time to make their case.

Investors are keenly awaiting the outcome of the plebiscite in Africa’s second-biggest copper producer, with Lungu facing his toughest vote yet amid growing poverty and surging inflation. Whoever wins will need to revive an economy in default on its Eurobonds and secure a long-sought loan from the International Monetary Fund.

-Bloomberg