Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term, with the opposition leader making significant gains fueled by public discontent despite an economic upturn. The election commission’s results, announced early on Tuesday, revealed Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, while his primary rival, Brian Mundubile, received 38%. Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially declared Hichilema as the President-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This victory marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, leveraging the advantages of being the incumbent, whereas it was Mundubile’s inaugural attempt at the country’s helm. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since assuming office amid a debt crisis in 2021, highlighting Zambia’s significance in the global competition for critical minerals between China and the United States.
Following a relatively calm build-up to the August 13 election, tensions quickly escalated. International observers, including the European Union, acknowledged the election’s overall peaceful conduct but raised concerns about limitations on fundamental freedoms during the broader electoral process. The EU observation mission’s chief, Michael McNamara, noted that late legal modifications, legal ambiguities, and unequal campaign conditions distorted the electoral landscape.
On the election night, authorities arrested 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a confrontation that involved gunfire while Mundubile was present. The subsequent day, the electoral commission halted vote counting for several hours due to reports of violence against polling personnel and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile alleged potential tampering with result forms from polling stations, calling for an urgent independent inquiry, a claim refuted by Hichilema’s camp.
In a pastoral declaration, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops voiced apprehension over the military’s involvement during the vote tallying, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections is constitutionally the duty of the Zambia Police Service. The opposition is anticipated to challenge the election results legally, although the chances of success are deemed slim, according to Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at advisory firm Signal Risk.
While isolated political unrest may occur in the ensuing days, widespread upheaval is not anticipated, as stated by Musiker.