France, Aug. 13 -- Zambia went to the polls Thursday with economic hardship testing President Hakainde Hichilema's record as he seeks a second term to govern the copper-rich nation.

Polling stations in the southern African nation opened at 6:00 am local time and were due to close 12 hours later, with 8.7 million voters registered to cast their ballots.

"Zambians are frustrated and this election is a 50-50, that is why we are all here early to make the change," said voter Mwiche Nalupumbwe, 26, among hundreds who braved the morning chill to queue at polling stations well before they opened.

"It hasn't been the easiest five years," the development sector worker told French press agency AFP at Kabulonga, about eight kilometres (five miles...