Zambia: Zambia's Hichilema Wins Second Presidential Term

What the report says

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has been declared the winner of a second five-year term, after the Electoral Commission of Zambia said he took 61.4% of the vote in last Thursday’s presidential election. His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, received 38%, according to the tally released early Tuesday. The commission said the remaining constituencies were unlikely to change the outcome.

The vote came amid complaints from the opposition about intimidation, arrests, violence and counting irregularities. On election night, authorities arrested 11 people, including senior opposition figures, in what the government described as a raid targeting “militia activity.” Mundubile’s party rejected that explanation and said shots were fired during a search at his home. Counting was also briefly suspended after reports of attacks on polling officials and ballot theft, before resuming under tighter security.

Hichilema, 64, has led Zambia since 2021 and won after campaigning on his economic record. He took office during a debt crisis and a sharp slowdown, and his first term was marked by debt restructuring and lower inflation. His opponents argued that broader macroeconomic gains had not translated into better living conditions for many voters. The election is significant because it extends Hichilema’s mandate in a major copper-producing country and raises fresh questions about electoral credibility and political tensions ahead of the next term.