Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected president of Zambia for a second five-year term after defeating opposition challenger Brian Mundubile by more than one million votes. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Hichilema the winner with 2,965,326 votes, compared with Mundubile’s 1,856,217, following Thursday’s election.
The result extends the presidency of Hichilema, who first took office in 2021, but his victory is accompanied by opposition concerns about voting and counting procedures. His supporters rejected those claims and said the result showed public confidence in the government’s direction.
How the result was announced
Mundubile’s alliance called for scrutiny of the electoral process and raised concerns about the conduct of voting and the counting of results. During the campaign, the opposition had also alleged restrictions and an uneven political environment for competitors.
The announcement of results was briefly suspended after security concerns that included attacks on election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers. The count later resumed. The European Union Election Observation Mission said candidates had been able to campaign through rallies and public meetings, while raising concerns about campaign-related violence, political intimidation and the media environment.
Related coverage: Observers Raise Concerns as Zambia Counts Presidential Votes.
What Hichilema’s first term focused on
Hichilema came to power after defeating former President Edgar Lungu in 2021, promising economic reform, improved governance and job creation. His first term focused largely on economic stabilisation and rebuilding international confidence after Zambia defaulted on its external debt obligations.
His supporters point to debt restructuring, improved relations with international lenders and renewed investor interest in mining. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer, and the government is seeking more production and investment as demand grows for copper used in electric vehicles and renewable-energy technologies.
The pressure of a second mandate
The next test will be whether economic stabilisation produces wider gains for households. The opposition made the cost of living a central campaign issue, arguing that improvements in economic indicators had not eased pressure on families.
More context: How Edgar Lungu’s death still shadows Zambia’s election.
Hichilema’s government will face demands to create jobs, expand opportunities beyond mining, address energy challenges and ensure that mineral wealth benefits more people. Investors may see continuity as a source of stability, while many citizens will judge the second term by whether growth improves food, transport and other daily costs.
The result also leaves Hichilema under pressure to address political divisions. An independent member of parliament, Vincent Mwale, said the governing United Party for National Development should use its continued control to work and unite the country.
Also read: Zambia’s election count advances amid armed-raid allegation.
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