Hakainde Hichilema wins re-election as Zambia president

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second term in office after winning the country’s latest presidential election, according to results released by the electoral commission on Tuesday.

Hichilema won about 60 per cent of the votes, defeating his closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, who secured roughly 38 per cent, according to the results.

The victory gives the 64-year-old president another five-year mandate after he first came to power in 2021.

However, the election was overshadowed by allegations from opposition parties and observers that the campaign was conducted on an uneven playing field.

The opposition accused authorities of intimidation and restrictions on its activities, while several opposition figures remained in police custody following arrests linked to allegations of militia and insurgent activities.

Mundubile, the leader of the main opposition NRPUP, was reportedly placed in the protection of an international human rights organisation because of alleged threats against him.

The opposition also questioned aspects of the vote-counting process, with Mundubile alleging irregularities and claiming that some result documents had been tampered with, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim.

Election observers similarly raised concerns about the conduct of the poll, including alleged intimidation and what they described as disproportionate state media coverage favouring the ruling party.

Vote counting was also suspended for several hours after reports of violence against election officials and the alleged theft of ballot papers.

Despite the controversy, voting on Thursday was largely peaceful in the southern African country, which has maintained a record of peaceful transfers of power through elections since the return to multiparty democracy in 1991.

Reacting to his victory, Hichilema thanked Zambians for their confidence in his leadership and extended an olive branch to those who supported his opponents.

“We are truly humbled by the trust you have placed in our hands,” Hichilema said.

He added:

“To those citizens who preferred the ideas presented by our opponents, we hear you, and we will continue to work for you.”

The president also pledged to focus on delivering development across the country during his second term.

“Now we must work harder than ever before to deliver meaningful development for every single Zambian, in every corner of our country,” he said.

Hichilema entered the election as the favourite after his administration secured progress in restructuring Zambia’s debt, improving relations with international lenders and attracting investment into the country’s key copper industry.

However, economic challenges remain, with more than 70 per cent of Zambia’s population living on less than $3 a day, according to World Bank data.

Hichilema is expected to be sworn in seven days after the official results are published, provided the outcome is not challenged.