Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured his second consecutive 5-year term, facing a surprisingly strong challenge from the opposition leader amidst public discontent over ongoing difficulties despite economic improvements. According to the election commission’s latest figures released early Tuesday, Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, while his main rival, Brian Mundubile, received 38%. The commission chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This election marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, benefiting from the advantages of being the incumbent, whereas Mundubile entered the race for the first time. The 64-year-old Hichilema campaigned on his economic accomplishments since assuming office during the pandemic-induced debt crisis in 2021. Zambia, known for its copper reserves, has attracted attention from global powers such as China and the United States due to its strategic mineral resources.
Despite a relatively peaceful prelude to the August 13 election, tensions escalated rapidly. International observers, including the European Union, acknowledged the overall peaceful conduct of the election but criticized the limited freedoms within the electoral process. The EU mission chief, Michael McNamara, highlighted legal uncertainties, late changes, and unequal campaign conditions that marred the fairness of the election.
On the election night, authorities detained 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire in the presence of Mundubile. Subsequently, the electoral commission halted vote-counting for several hours due to reports of violence against polling staff and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile raised concerns about potential result tampering and called for an independent inquiry, refuted by Hichilema’s camp as false accusations.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops voiced unease regarding the army’s involvement during the vote tallying, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections falls under the jurisdiction of the Zambia Police Service according to the constitution and statutes. The opposition is anticipated to challenge the election outcome legally, although the chances of success are deemed slim by Zambia analyst Greg Musiker from advisory firm Signal Risk.
While isolated political unrest might occur in the near future, widespread turmoil is not anticipated, ensuring relative stability following the election outcome.