Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema wins re-election with 60% of vote, officials say

By Gavin Blackburn Published on 18/08/2026 - 7:00 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp The election was widely seen as a referendum on Hichilema's first term during which Zambia's economy returned to growth after years of fiscal distress. Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema won re-election with around 60% of votes cast last week, the electoral commission announced on Tuesday, after a race critics said was tightly managed by his government. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The result was widely expected, with Hichilema, who has been in power since 2021, facing a crowded field of 13 challengers led by a former provincial minister, Brian Mundubile, making his first bid for the presidency. Mundubile, 55, who entered the race in May, secured nearly 38% of the vote, Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said. Five of the 226 constituencies had not been tallied, she said. However, "the outstanding results are not likely to materially influence the overall result of that election," she said. The 13 August election in the copper-rich southern African nation was overshadowed by opposition allegations of fraud and an unprecedented nationwide suspension of vote tallying after attacks on election staff and the theft of marked ballot papers. Election workers count ballots at a polling station in Lusaka, 13 August, 2026 AP Photo Ahead of the vote, opposition parties and civil society groups warned of a shrinking political space, citing restrictions on campaigning. International and domestic observer missions said at the weekend that the conditions had contributed to an uneven playing field. Tensions escalated after the vote when authorities arrested nearly a dozen people, including senior opposition figures, during a raid that involved an exchange of gunfire. The government said those arrested were linked to militia or insurgent activity around the election, allegations denied by Mundubile's NRPUP party. The election was widely seen as a referendum on Hichilema's first term during which Zambia's economy returned to growth after years of fiscal distress. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Zambia rebukes envoys after US goes public with medical aid cut over 'systemic theft' ‘Sex-for-fish’: Rural Zambian women forced into coercive deals as drought and aid cuts bite Zambia declares national emergency as drought devastates food and electricity supply Zambia Hakainde Hichilema Election Politics Presidential elections Economy