Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term in office, facing a robust challenge from the opposition leader amid public discontent over lingering economic difficulties despite signs of improvement. The election commission disclosed that Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, while his primary rival, Brian Mundubile, captured 38%. Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially declared Hichilema the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, with his victory widely anticipated due to the advantages of being the incumbent, whereas Mundubile made his first attempt at the presidency. The 64-year-old Hichilema campaigned on his economic performance since taking office during a challenging period characterized by a debt crisis in 2021. Zambia, known for its copper resources, has been a focal point of competition between global powers like China and the United States for its strategic minerals.
The post-election period turned tumultuous following a relatively calm prelude to the August 13 poll. International observers, including the European Union, noted that while the election itself was mostly peaceful, the overall electoral process was conducted under constraints that impeded fundamental freedoms. Michael McNamara, head of the EU observation mission, highlighted late legal alterations, uncertainties, and uneven campaign conditions that affected the electoral landscape.
On election night, authorities apprehended 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire exchanges in the presence of Mundubile. Subsequently, the electoral commission halted vote tabulation for several hours due to reports of violence against polling personnel and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile raised concerns about potential result tampering and called for an independent inquiry, a claim dismissed by Hichilema’s supporters.
In a statement, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed unease over the military’s involvement during the vote tallying process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections falls within the realm of the Zambia Police Service as per constitutional provisions. While the opposition is anticipated to challenge the election outcome through legal means, the likelihood of a successful overturn is considered low, according to Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at advisory firm Signal Risk.
Musiker expected isolated political disturbances in the near future but downplayed the prospects of widespread unrest in the aftermath of the election outcome.