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 economic improvements. The election commission announced that Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, while his main rival, Brian Mundubile, received approximately 38%. Mwangala Zaloumis, the commission chairperson, officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This was Hichilema’s seventh attempt at the presidency, and his victory was widely anticipated due to the advantages of being the incumbent, whereas Mundubile made his debut bid for the top position in the country. The 64-year-old Hichilema focused his campaign on his economic achievements since assuming office during a debt crisis in 2021, with Zambia’s mineral resources attracting attention from both China and the United States.
Following a relatively calm period leading up to the August 13 election, tensions flared up swiftly after the voting day. International observers, including the European Union, noted that while the election itself was mostly peaceful, the overall electoral process was marred by restrictions on basic freedoms. Disruptions like late legal changes and unequal campaign conditions were highlighted by Michael McNamara, head of the EU observation mission.
The post-election situation turned chaotic as authorities detained 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire during Mundubile’s presence. Subsequently, the electoral commission halted vote counting for several hours due to reports of violence against polling staff and ballot paper theft. Mundubile raised concerns about the possible manipulation of result forms and called for an independent investigation, but Hichilema’s camp dismissed his claims as false.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed worry over the army’s involvement in the vote counting process, asserting that maintaining order during elections falls within the Zambia Police Service’s jurisdiction. The opposition is anticipated to contest the election results through legal channels, though the chances of a successful challenge are slim, as per Greg Musiker, a Zambia analyst at advisory firm Signal Risk. Despite potential isolated political unrest in the near future, widespread turmoil is not foreseen.