Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term, facing a surprisingly robust challenge from the opposition leader, who tapped into public discontent over persistent difficulties despite an economic upturn. The electoral commission revealed the results early on Tuesday, showing Hichilema garnering around 60% of valid votes, with his primary rival, Brian Mundubile, receiving 38%. Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This marked Hichilema’s seventh attempt at the presidency, and his victory was widely anticipated due to the benefits of being the incumbent, whereas Mundubile made his debut bid for the top political position in the country. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since assuming office during a debt crisis in 2021, amid heightened global interest in Zambia’s copper resources from countries like China and the United States.
Following a relatively calm lead-up to the August 13 election, tensions escalated swiftly. While international observers, including the European Union, noted that the election was mostly peaceful, they highlighted constraints on fundamental freedoms throughout the electoral process. The EU observation mission’s chief, Michael McNamara, cited late legal alterations, ambiguity, and uneven campaign conditions as factors that skewed the electoral landscape.
On election night, authorities detained 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire exchange while Mundubile was present. Subsequently, the electoral commission briefly halted vote counting due to reports of violence against polling staff and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile raised concerns about potential result form manipulation and called for an independent probe, although Hichilema’s camp dismissed his claims as false.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed unease over the military’s involvement during the vote count, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections is the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service as per the constitution and statutes. The opposition is anticipated to contest the election results legally, but the chances of success are slim, according to Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at Signal Risk consultancy. While isolated political unrest may occur in the near future, widespread turmoil is not expected.
Supporters of Hakainde Hichilema celebrated his triumph in the streets of Lusaka after the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced his victory.
