Zambia: Zambia Votes With President's Economic Record On the Line

What the report says

Zambia held national elections on Thursday, with President Hakainde Hichilema’s economic record at the center of the contest, according to AllAfrica’s republishing of a Radio France Internationale report. Polling stations opened early in the morning and were scheduled to close after 12 hours, with 8.7 million registered voters eligible to choose a president and 226 lawmakers.

The report says Hichilema, who won his first term in 2021, is seeking re-election on a platform focused on job creation and infrastructure. His government points to lower inflation, a stronger kwacha and progress on debt restructuring after Zambia’s 2020 sovereign default. But many voters still face high food and energy costs, and the article notes persistent frustration over living conditions and the pace of change.

Brian Mundubile, a former minister running with an opposition-backed alliance under the newly formed NRPUP, is described as Hichilema’s main challenger among 13 opponents. He has argued that the campaign environment was not free and fair. The report also notes concerns about restrictions on dissent and tighter security around the vote, including arrests over an alleged plot to disrupt the electoral system.

Results were expected by 17 August, and a candidate needed more than 50 percent to avoid a runoff. The vote is significant because it will test public confidence in Hichilema’s economic stewardship and the country’s broader political stability.