Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term, facing a stronger challenge from the opposition leader who tapped into public discontent despite the country’s economic improvements. Official results from the election commission, announced in the early hours of Tuesday, revealed that Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, with his main rival, Brian Mundubile, receiving approximately 38%. The commission’s chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, and with the advantage of incumbency, he was widely anticipated to win, while Mundubile made his first attempt at the head of state position. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since assuming office during a debt crisis in 2021 amid the pandemic. Zambia, known for its copper resources, has been a focal point in the competition between China and the United States for key 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 was mostly peaceful, the overall electoral process occurred within constraints that limited fundamental freedoms. The EU observation mission’s chief, Michael McNamara, highlighted late legal changes, legal uncertainties, and uneven campaign conditions as factors influencing the dynamics.
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 personnel and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile raised concerns about potential result form alterations from polling stations, calling for an urgent independent investigation, a claim disputed by Hichilema’s camp.
In a statement, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed worry over the military’s involvement during the vote tallying process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections is the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service as per the constitution and statutes. The opposition is anticipated to challenge the election results legally, although the likelihood of a successful challenge is deemed low, according to Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at advisory firm Signal Risk.
Despite the potential for isolated political unrest in the near future, broader civil disturbances are not anticipated, Musiker added.