Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second consecutive 5-year term, facing a robust challenge from the opposition leader who tapped into public dissatisfaction with lingering difficulties despite an economic upturn. The election commission’s results, announced early Tuesday, revealed Hichilema garnered approximately 60% of valid votes, while his primary rival, Brian Mundubile, received about 38%. Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially declared Hichilema as the president-elect of Zambia on August 18, 2026.

This election marked Hichilema’s seventh presidential bid, and despite the advantages of incumbency, he faced a spirited challenge from Mundubile, who made his first attempt at the country’s top leadership position. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements since assuming office amidst a debt crisis in 2021, highlighting Zambia’s significance in the global competition between China and the United States for its mineral resources, particularly copper.

Following a relatively peaceful lead-up to the August 13 election, tensions escalated post-vote. International observers, including the European Union, acknowledged the overall peaceful conduct of the election but raised concerns about limitations on fundamental freedoms during the broader electoral process. The EU observation mission’s chief, Michael McNamara, pointed out late legal alterations, legal ambiguities, and unequal campaign conditions that impacted the fairness of the election environment.

In the aftermath of the election, authorities arrested 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, in a raid that involved gunfire exchanges while Mundubile was present. The electoral commission temporarily halted vote-counting due to reports of violence against polling officials and the theft of ballots. Mundubile alleged possible result form tampering and called for an independent investigation, a claim refuted by Hichilema’s camp.

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed unease over the military’s involvement in the vote counting process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections is the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service according to the constitution and statutes. The opposition is anticipated to contest the election results through legal channels, although the likelihood of success is deemed low by Zambia analyst Greg Musiker from advisory firm Signal Risk. While isolated political disturbances could occur, widespread unrest is not anticipated in the near future.