Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term in office, although facing a strong challenge from the opposition leader who tapped into public discontent over ongoing hardships despite economic improvements. The election commission announced the results early on Tuesday, revealing that Hichilema garnered about 60% of valid votes, while his main rival, Brian Mundubile, received around 38%. Mwangala Zaloumis, the chairperson of the commission, officially declared Hichilema Hakainde S as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.
This election marked Hichilema’s seventh bid for the presidency, with his victory widely anticipated due to the advantages of being the incumbent, whereas Mundubile, in his first attempt at the presidency, fell short. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since taking office amidst a debt crisis in 2021, with Zambia’s mineral resources drawing attention from global powers like China and the United States.
Following a relatively calm prelude to the August 13 election, tensions escalated swiftly during the aftermath. International observers, including the European Union, acknowledged the overall peaceful conduct of the election but criticized limitations on fundamental freedoms within the electoral process. The EU observation mission’s chief, Michael McNamara, highlighted issues such as last-minute legal changes, uncertainty in the law, and unequal campaigning conditions that skewed the fairness of the election.
The post-election period saw a surge in tensions, with authorities apprehending 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid involving gunfire during Mundubile’s presence. Subsequently, the electoral commission halted vote-tabulation for several hours due to reports of violence against polling personnel and ballot paper theft. Mundubile raised concerns about potential result form alterations from polling stations, calling for an urgent independent inquiry, while Hichilema’s camp dismissed these claims as false.
In a statement, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed worry over the army’s involvement in the vote counting process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections falls under the jurisdiction of the Zambia Police Service as per constitutional and statutory provisions. Despite the likelihood of the opposition challenging the election results through legal means, the prospects of a successful challenge remain slim, as analyzed by Greg Musiker, a Zambia expert at Signal Risk consultancy. While isolated incidents of political unrest may occur in the upcoming days, widespread turmoil is not anticipated.