Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second consecutive 5-year term in office, facing a robust challenge from the opposition leader amid public dissatisfaction with ongoing difficulties despite signs of economic improvement. The election commission announced the results early on Tuesday, revealing that Hichilema garnered approximately 60% of the valid votes, while his primary rival, Brian Mundubile, received 38%. Mwangala Zaloumis, the commission chairperson, officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This victory marks Hichilema’s seventh attempt at the presidency, and despite the advantages of being the incumbent, he faced a spirited challenge from Mundubile, who was making his first bid for the highest office in the country. Throughout his campaign, the 64-year-old Hichilema highlighted his economic achievements since assuming office amidst a debt crisis during the pandemic in 2021. Zambia, known for its copper resources, has been a key battleground for global powers like China and the United States due to its valuable minerals.
Following a relatively calm lead-up to the August 13 election, tensions escalated dramatically. International observers, including the European Union, noted that while the election itself was mostly peaceful, there were significant constraints on fundamental freedoms during the broader electoral process. The EU’s chief observer, Michael McNamara, criticized late legal modifications, legal ambiguities, and unequal campaign conditions that skewed the electoral environment.
On election night, authorities detained 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire in the vicinity of Mundubile. The following day, the electoral commission halted vote-counting for several hours due to reports of violence against polling staff and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile raised concerns about potential tampering with result forms from polling stations and called for an independent investigation, an allegation dismissed by Hichilema’s supporters.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed apprehension over the involvement of the military in the vote-counting process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections is primarily the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service. While the opposition is anticipated to contest the election results through legal means, the prospects of a successful challenge are deemed slim by experts. Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at advisory firm Signal Risk, predicts possible localized political disturbances in the days ahead but does not foresee widespread unrest.
