Hichilema re-elected as Zambia president amid opposition concerns over vote

What the report says

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has won re-election for a second five-year term after defeating opposition challenger Brian Mundubile by more than one million votes, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia. The commission said Hichilema received 2,965,326 votes, compared with Mundubile’s 1,856,217, in voting held last Thursday and announced on Tuesday in Lusaka. The result extends Hichilema’s presidency, which began in 2021 after years in opposition.

The vote has been marked by opposition complaints about the electoral process. Mundubile’s alliance questioned aspects of voting and counting, while Hichilema’s supporters rejected those claims and said the result reflected public support for the government. The European Union Election Observation Mission, as quoted by Al Jazeera, said candidates were able to campaign but noted concerns including violence, intimidation and media conditions. The ECZ also briefly halted the results announcement after security issues involving attacks on election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers, before resuming the count.

Al Jazeera said Hichilema’s second term will be judged not only by political stability but by whether economic recovery reaches ordinary Zambians. His first term focused on debt restructuring, restoring investor confidence and stabilising the currency and mining sector after Zambia’s debt default. The article said many voters still care most about living costs, jobs and whether growth leads to better daily life. Copper remains central to Zambia’s economy, and the next phase is expected to test whether the government can turn stabilization into broader benefits.