Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term in office, facing a surprisingly strong challenge from the opposition leader amidst public discontent over persistent hardships despite economic improvements. The election results announced by the election commission early on Tuesday revealed Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, with his main rival Brian Mundubile receiving 38%.
Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially declared Hichilema Hakainde S as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026. This marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, with his victory largely anticipated given the advantages of being the incumbent, while it was Mundubile’s first attempt at the presidency.
During his campaign, the 64-year-old Hichilema emphasized his economic achievements since assuming office amid a debt crisis in 2021. Zambia, known for its copper wealth, has been a focal point in the rivalry between China and the United States due to its essential mineral resources.
Following a relatively calm lead-up to the August 13 election, tensions escalated rapidly. International observers, including the European Union, acknowledged the overall peaceful conduct of the election but noted limitations on fundamental freedoms during the broader electoral process.
Violence erupted post-election with authorities detaining 11 individuals, including key opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire while Mundubile was present. The electoral commission suspended vote-counting for several hours due to reported violence against polling staff and the theft of ballot papers. Amid allegations of result tampering, Mundubile called for an independent investigation, which Hichilema’s camp dismissed as unfounded.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed unease over the military’s involvement in the vote counting, stating that maintaining order during elections is the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service as per the constitution. The opposition is anticipated to challenge the election results legally, although the prospects of success are slim according to Zambia analyst Greg Musiker from advisory firm Signal Risk.
While localized political unrest may occur in the near future, widespread turmoil is not expected, as per Musiker’s assessment.