Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second term in office, facing a strong challenge from the opposition leader who tapped into public discontent despite positive economic changes. Official results disclosed by the election commission early on Tuesday revealed Hichilema garnered about 60% of valid votes, while his main rival, Brian Mundubile, received around 38%. The commission’s chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
Hichilema, 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since assuming office during a debt crisis in 2021 amid the pandemic. Zambia, known for its copper resources and the subject of interest from China and the United States due to its strategic minerals, witnessed Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, widely anticipated to secure victory given the advantages of incumbency, while it marked Mundubile’s first attempt at the presidency.
Following a relatively calm prelude to the August 13 election, tensions soared rapidly. International observers, including the European Union, acknowledged the mostly peaceful conduct of the election but highlighted limitations on fundamental freedoms throughout the electoral process. The EU mission chief, Michael McNamara, cited late legal modifications, uncertainties, and uneven campaign conditions as factors distorting the electoral landscape.
Post-election, authorities arrested 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid involving gunfire while Mundubile was present. The electoral commission temporarily halted vote counting due to violence against polling staff and ballot paper theft reports. Mundubile raised concerns about possible result form alterations and called for an independent inquiry, disputed by Hichilema’s camp.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed worry about the army’s involvement in the vote tallying process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections falls under the Zambia Police Service’s jurisdiction as per the constitution and statutes. The opposition is anticipated to challenge the results legally, but the likelihood of success is deemed low, as per Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at Signal Risk consultancy. Despite potential localized political unrest, widespread disturbances are not foreseen in the days ahead.