President Hakainde Hichilema won re-election with 60% of the vote, the Electoral Commission said, while challenger Brian Mundubile took nearly 38%. The result was expected, though five constituencies remained untallied and were not seen as likely to change the outcome. The campaign and counting were marred by allegations of intimidation, a six-hour suspension of counting, arrests over alleged "militia activity," and warnings from international observers about the vote's credibility. The vote was seen as a test of Hichilema's economic record amid persistent poverty and political tension.
Hichilema Re-Elected With 60% Amid Allegations and International Concerns
Zambia is counting the results of general elections held on Thursday (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA)
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema secured re-election with 60 percent of votes cast last week, the Electoral Commission announced on Tuesday. The outcome, expected by many, came after a contest critics say was tightly managed by the government and marked by post-vote tensions.
Mwandala Zaloumis, chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia, said challenger Brian Mundubile, a former provincial minister making his first presidential bid, took nearly 38 percent of the vote. Five of the 226 constituencies had not been tallied, but the commission said those outstanding results were "not likely to materially influence the overall result of that election."
After the result was confirmed, 64-year-old Hichilema thanked voters: "We are truly humbled by the trust you have placed in our hands." He added: "To those citizens who preferred the ideas presented by our opponents, we hear you, and we will continue to work for you." Supporters in Lusaka celebrated in the capital, waving UPND colours, singing and setting off firecrackers.
Allegations of Irregularities and Arrests
The campaign and immediate post-vote period were clouded by allegations from the opposition of intimidation, arrests and counting irregularities. Brian Mundubile claimed—without presenting evidence—that result documents had been tampered with and alleged pressure on officials in Southern Province to modify figures.
The government said police arrested 11 people, including six opposition figures, in a raid it described as targeting "militia activity," and alleged those detained had military-grade weapons and other materials for use in armed insurrection. Mundubile's party, the National Restoration Party of Unity and Progress (NRPUP), rejected the accusations as "spurious and entirely false," and said shots were fired during the raid at Mundubile's home, injuring a parliamentarian.
Counting Pause and Observer Warnings
The Electoral Commission suspended vote counting for about six hours after reports of violence against polling staff and alleged theft of ballot papers; officials said the "security threat" was later contained and counting resumed. International observers, including a European Union mission, warned that the pause and restrictions on opposition campaigning could undermine the credibility of the process and voters' confidence.
Independent analysts and think-tanks also expressed concern. Oxford Economics Africa said events around the vote, including the arrests, had "raised serious questions about the integrity of the results," adding that hopes for a calm and credible election had been dashed and that the country remained "very tense."
Economic Context and Political Significance
The election was widely viewed as a referendum on Hichilema's first five years in office. He points to debt restructuring and lower inflation as achievements since 2021, but critics argue these gains have not yet improved living standards for most Zambians. According to the World Bank, more than 70 percent of Zambia's roughly 22 million people live on less than $3 a day.
Zambia, Africa's second-largest copper producer, has a history of peaceful transfers of power: since the return to multiparty politics in 1991, changes of president have been achieved through elections. However, the tensions around this vote underscore persistent political and social challenges as the country heads into another term under Hichilema.
Key figures: Hichilema 60% | Mundubile ~38% | 5 of 226 constituencies untallied | 11 arrests reported
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