Lusaka, Zambia – Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected as Zambia’s president after defeating opposition challenger Brian Mundubile by more than one million votes, but his victory comes amid opposition concerns over the conduct of the election and questions about the country’s political direction. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) declared Hichilema the winner on Tuesday after he secured 2,965,326 votes against Mundubile’s 1,856,217, giving him another five-year mandate after first taking office in 2021. The result of Thursday’s voting extends the rule of a leader who came to power promising to rebuild an economy weakened by debt, restore investor confidence and revive growth in Africa’s second-largest copper producer.
Mundubile’s alliance raised concerns over aspects of the voting process and the counting of results while Hichilema’s supporters rejected the claims and said the outcome reflected public confidence in the government’s direction. The result begins a new phase in which Hichilema’s mandate will be tested against public expectations and questions about Zambia’s political landscape. His first term was largely focused on economic stabilisation and rebuilding international confidence.
His second will be shaped by demands for stronger accountability, national unity and broader benefits from economic growth. Copper remains central to Zambia’s future. As demand grows for the metal used in electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and other parts of the global energy transition, the country is seeking to increase production and attract more investment.
But for many voters, the measure of success will not only be investment figures or economic indicators but whether political stability and resource wealth translate into better opportunities. Hichilema’s re-election completes a dramatic political turnaround for a politician who spent years in opposition before defeating former President Edgar Lungu in 2021. His United Party for National Development (UPND) campaigned on promises of economic reform, improved governance and job creation.
Mundubile’s opposition alliance focused on frustration over the cost of living and argued that improvements under Hichilema’s government had not yet reached many households. During the campaign, Mundubile alleged that opposition parties faced an uneven political environment, citing restrictions and concerns over the treatment of political competitors. After the vote, his camp called for scrutiny of the electoral process.
Hichilema’s supporters rejected the allegations. The European Union Election Observation Mission said candidates were able to campaign through rallies and public meetings but raised concerns over campaign-related violence, political intimidation and the media environment. The announcement of results was briefly interrupted after the Electoral Commission suspended the process following security concerns, including attacks on election officials and the theft of marked ballot papers, before the count resumed.
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