Zambia's President Hichilema wins re-election with 61.4% of vote

Published Aug 18, 09:11 AM UTC

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected for a second five-year term, winning 61.4% of the five million votes cast in the August 13, 2026 presidential election. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared him the outright winner without a run-off. The election was contentious: vote counting was suspended and later restarted under heightened security after attacks on polling officials and theft of ballot papers. Several leading opposition figures were arrested on election night. Hichilema's closest competitor, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, received about 38% of the vote. International observers from the European Union said the election was largely peaceful but noted an environment that limited fundamental freedoms and unequal campaign conditions. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed concern over the deployment of the army during vote counting. Hichilema welcomed the results and reached out to opposition voters, pledging to work for all Zambians.