Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term in office, but faced a strong challenge from the opposition leader amid public discontent over persistent hardships despite economic improvements. The election commission announced that Hichilema garnered around 60% of valid votes, with his main rival, Brian Mundubile, receiving 38%. Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect on August 18, 2026.
This marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid. Despite being the incumbent, his victory was not a foregone conclusion, as Mundubile was a first-time contender for the top leadership position. Hichilema, aged 64, centered his campaign on his handling of the economy since assuming office during a debt crisis in 2021, with Zambia’s mineral resources attracting international interest from major players like China and the United States.
Following a relatively calm lead-up to the August 13 election, tensions escalated post-vote. While international observers, including the European Union, noted the overall peace during the election, they raised concerns about limitations on fundamental freedoms throughout the electoral process. The aftermath saw arrests of 11 individuals, including key opposition figures, amid incidents of violence and theft of ballot papers, prompting disruptions in the vote-counting process.
Mundubile alleged possible tampering with election result forms, calling for an independent probe, a claim countered by Hichilema’s camp. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops criticized the military’s involvement in election-related activities, emphasizing that law enforcement should be handled by the police as per the constitution.
The opposition’s refusal to accept the election outcome may lead to a legal challenge, although the likelihood of success appears slim, according to Zambia analyst Greg Musiker. While localized political unrest remains a possibility in the near future, widespread disturbances are not anticipated.