Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second 5-year term in office, facing a stronger challenge from the opposition leader amid public discontent over persistent hardships despite economic improvements. The election commission revealed that Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, outpacing his main rival, Brian Mundubile, who received 38%. The commission chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This election marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, with his victory widely anticipated due to the advantages of being the incumbent, while Mundubile made his first attempt at the presidency. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since assuming office during a debt crisis in 2021, emphasizing Zambia’s importance in the competition between China and the United States for its mineral resources, particularly copper.
Following a relatively calm prelude to the August 13 election, tensions quickly escalated. International observers, including the European Union, noted that the election was mostly peaceful but highlighted restrictions on fundamental freedoms during the broader electoral process. The EU’s chief observer, Michael McNamara, criticized late legal changes, legal uncertainties, and unequal campaign conditions that skewed the fairness of the election.
Post-election, a raid involving gunfire led to the arrest of 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, with reports of violence against electoral staff and ballot paper theft prompting a temporary suspension of vote-counting by the electoral commission. Mundubile raised concerns about potential result tampering and called for an independent investigation, countered by denials from Hichilema’s camp.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed worry over the military’s involvement in the vote counting process, stressing that maintaining order during elections is the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service as per the constitution. Despite potential legal challenges from the opposition, analysts suggest that any attempts to contest the results may face hurdles, with localized political tensions expected rather than widespread unrest in the aftermath of the election.