Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second consecutive 5-year term in office, facing a strong challenge from the opposition leader amidst public dissatisfaction with lingering economic difficulties despite signs of improvement. The election commission’s latest figures, disclosed early Tuesday, reveal that Hichilema clinched approximately 60% of the valid votes, while his primary rival, Brian Mundubile, garnered about 38%. Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis formally declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This victory marks Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, expected due to the advantages of incumbency, while Mundubile was making his first attempt at the presidency. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since taking office amid a debt crisis in 2021. Zambia, known for its abundant copper reserves, has been a focal point of competition between China and the United States for its strategic mineral resources.
Following a relatively calm prelude to the August 13 election, tensions escalated rapidly. International observers, including the European Union, noted that the election proceeded peacefully overall but raised concerns about limitations on fundamental freedoms during the broader electoral process. Michael McNamara, head of the EU observation mission, highlighted late legal alterations, uncertainty, and unequal campaign conditions as factors skewing the electoral environment.
On election night, authorities apprehended 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid involving gunfire while Mundubile was present. Subsequently, the electoral commission paused vote tabulation for hours due to reports of violence against polling personnel and theft of ballot papers. Mundubile alleged potential tampering with result forms from polling stations and urged an immediate independent investigation, a claim dismissed by Hichilema’s camp.
In a statement, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops voiced unease over the military’s involvement in the vote counting process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections falls within the purview of the Zambia Police Service. Despite expectations of the opposition contesting the results through legal channels, the chances of success appear slim, according to Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at advisory firm Signal Risk. Musiker anticipates possible localized political unrest in the near future but believes widespread turmoil is unlikely.