Hichilema re-elected for second term in Zambia

LUSAKA, Zambia: President Hakainde Hichilema has won a second term in office after a disputed election that was affected by violence at polling stations, a temporary suspension of vote counting and the arrest of opposition officials.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Hichilema the winner on Tuesday after he secured more than 51 per cent of the vote, avoiding a run off. The commission said he received 2 965 326 votes, while his main challenger, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, received 1 856 217 votes.

The election was held on 13 August 2026 in Zambia, a country of about 22 million people and one of the world’s leading copper producers.

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Hichilema’s victory came after several days of tension following the poll.

The Electoral Commission suspended vote counting for several hours on Friday after reporting attacks on polling station officials and the theft of some marked ballot papers.

The suspension led to the deployment of the army in parts of Lusaka, an unusual development in a country that has generally held peaceful elections since returning to multiparty democracy in 1991.

The government later confirmed that 11 opposition officials had been detained during a law enforcement raid on election night.

The raid took place at a property where Mundubile was present, although he was not arrested. The government said the operation involved an exchange of gunfire between law enforcement officers and people inside the property.

Authorities accused those detained of possessing “high-grade military weapons, ammunition and other materials for use in armed insurrection”.

The government described the group as a national security threat.

Mundubile criticised the raid as an attempt on his life and denied allegations that the detained officials were members of a militia. Reports also said that a polling agent was killed near Lusaka on election day.

Hichilema said he and his United Party for National Development were humbled by the confidence shown by voters.

He also reached out to those who supported the opposition during the election.

“To those citizens who preferred the ideas presented by our opponents, we hear you, and we will continue to work for you to ensure that every Zambian benefits from the development we are delivering,” Hichilema said.

The European Union observer mission said the election was largely peaceful on voting day, but raised concerns about the wider electoral environment.

The mission said the broader process took place in circumstances that restricted fundamental freedoms.

“Late legal changes, legal uncertainty and unequal campaign conditions distorted the playing field,” said Michael McNamara, head of the EU observer mission.

Hichilema, 64, campaigned on his economic recovery programme after Zambia defaulted on its debt repayments in 2020.

During his first term, Zambia restructured its debt, reduced inflation and stabilised its currency.

One of his key promises for the new term is to increase copper production more than threefold to three million tonnes a year by 2031.

Zambia’s copper reserves have attracted investment from China and increased interest from the United States, particularly because copper is used in new technologies and renewable energy systems.

Although the government has pointed to improved macroeconomic conditions, critics say many households have not yet experienced the benefits.

The high cost of living and electricity shortages remain major concerns for ordinary Zambians.

Hichilema has promised “meaningful development for every single Zambian, in every corner of our country.”