Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second term after winning about 60 percent of the vote in last week’s presidential election, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) announced Tuesday.
Hichilema, who contested under the United Party for National Development (UPND), defeated his main challenger, Brian Mundubile of the Tonse Alliance, who secured about 38 percent of the vote.
The victory extends Hichilema’s presidency to a second five-year term after he first came to power in 2021, ending the long rule of the Patriotic Front.
The election was largely peaceful, but the campaign and vote-counting process were marred by allegations of intimidation, arrests, violence and irregularities. Vote counting was temporarily suspended after attacks on election officials and the theft of ballot papers before it resumed under heightened security.
Opposition figures have questioned the credibility of the process, while government authorities have denied accusations of suppressing political opponents. Several opposition figures were arrested around election day, with authorities citing alleged threats to national security.
Hichilema’s re-election comes as his administration points to progress in stabilising Zambia’s economy following the country’s debt crisis, including debt restructuring and increased investment in the mining sector. However, high living costs and concerns over whether economic gains are reaching ordinary citizens remained major issues during the campaign.
With the election now settled, Hichilema faces the challenge of translating his economic reforms into broader improvements in jobs, household incomes and living standards while addressing concerns over democratic freedoms and political inclusion.
