Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term, facing a stronger-than-anticipated challenge from the opposition leader amidst public discontent over lingering hardships despite economic improvements. According to the election commission’s latest results released early on Tuesday, Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, while his primary opponent, Brian Mundubile, received about 38%. Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect on August 18, 2026.
This election marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, with his victory largely expected due to the advantages of being the incumbent, whereas Mundubile was making his first attempt at the country’s top leadership position. The 64-year-old Hichilema campaigned on his economic achievements since assuming office during a challenging period of a pandemic-induced debt crisis in 2021. Zambia, known for its copper resources, has been a focal point of competition between China and the United States for its vital minerals.
Following a relatively calm period leading up to the August 13 election, tensions escalated rapidly. International observers, including the European Union, noted that while the election itself was mostly peaceful, the broader electoral process faced constraints that limited essential freedoms. The EU observation mission’s chief, Michael McNamara, highlighted late legal modifications, legal uncertainties, and unequal campaign conditions as factors that skewed the electoral landscape.
On election night, authorities arrested 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire exchange while Mundubile was present. Subsequently, the electoral commission temporarily halted vote counting due to reports of violence against polling officials and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile raised concerns about possible result form alterations from polling stations and called for an urgent independent investigation, a claim refuted by Hichilema’s camp.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed worry over the army’s involvement in the vote counting process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections is the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service as stipulated by the constitution and statutes. The opposition is widely anticipated to challenge the election results legally, although the chances of success are deemed low, according to Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at advisory firm Signal Risk. Despite the possibility of isolated political unrest in the near future, widespread turmoil is not foreseen.
