Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Zambia's Hichilema re-elected as cost-of-living pressures dent support
Zambia held an election for its president.
The current president, Hakainde Hichilema, won another term.
He received about 60 out of every 100 votes.
His main rival, Brian Mundubile, got about 38 votes out of 100.
Many people are unhappy because everyday things are still expensive.
Hichilema said the country's economy is getting better.
Mundubile said the improvements have not helped ordinary people.
After the election, police arrested 11 people, including opposition leaders.
Mundubile said the results might have been changed and asked for an investigation.
Hichilema's team said that claim was not true.
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema won re-election with roughly 60% of valid votes.
Main challenger Brian Mundubile received about 38% of the vote, an unexpectedly strong showing.
The election was held on August 13, with results released by the election commission early Tuesday morning.
Authorities arrested 11 people, including leading opposition figures, in a raid involving an exchange of gunfire on election night.
Mundubile alleged possible alteration of results forms and called for an independent investigation, which Hichilema's camp dismissed as a lie.
- Who
- President Hakainde Hichilema and opposition leader Brian Mundubile
- What
- Hichilema was re-elected for a second term with about 60% of valid votes, while Mundubile won about 38%
- When
- Election held on August 13; results released early Tuesday morning
- Where
- Zambia
- Why
- Hichilema campaigned on his economic record since the 2021 debt crisis, while Mundubile capitalized on public frustration with cost-of-living hardships
Opposition (Brian Mundubile)
Government (Hakainde Hichilema)
Election integrity
Opposition (Brian Mundubile)
Mundubile said he had received information about possible alteration of results forms from polling stations and called for an urgent independent investigation.
Government (Hakainde Hichilema)
Hichilema's camp said Mundubile was lying about the alleged alteration of results forms.
Economic record
Opposition (Brian Mundubile)
Mundubile argued that improving macroeconomic indicators had made little difference to people's daily lives amid lingering hardships.
Government (Hakainde Hichilema)
Hichilema campaigned on his economic record, citing an economic turnaround since taking charge during a pandemic-era debt crisis in 2021.
- Re-elected president
- Hakainde Hichilema
- Vote share
- Roughly 60% of valid votes
- Main challenger
- Brian Mundubile (38% of votes)
- Election date
- August 13
- Results released
- Early Tuesday morning
- Arrests after election
- 11 people, including leading opposition figures
- Hichilema's presidential runs
- Seventh run for the presidency
- Key national resource
- Copper, a focus of China-U.S. competition for critical minerals