Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second term in office, facing a strong challenge from the opposition leader amid public discontent over ongoing hardships despite economic improvements. The election commission announced Hichilema’s victory with around 60% of valid votes, while his main rival, Brian Mundubile, garnered approximately 38%.
In a declaration on Tuesday, commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis officially named Hichilema as the president-elect, marking his seventh presidential bid and Mundubile’s first attempt at the presidency. Hichilema, aged 64, campaigned on his economic achievements following his tenure that began in 2021 during a pandemic-induced debt crisis. Zambia, known for its copper reserves, has been a focal point for global powers like China and the United States due to its strategic mineral resources.
The aftermath of the election saw a sudden rise in tensions despite a relatively calm lead-up to the voting day on August 13. International observers, including the European Union, acknowledged the peaceful nature of the election but raised concerns about constraints on fundamental freedoms throughout the electoral process.
Incidents of unrest emerged post-election, including the arrest of 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, during a raid that involved gunfire while Mundubile was present. The electoral commission temporarily halted vote-counting due to reports of violence against polling officials and the theft of ballot papers.
Mundubile raised suspicions of result tampering and called for an independent inquiry, although Hichilema’s camp disputed these claims. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops criticized the army’s involvement in the vote-counting process, emphasizing that maintaining order during elections is the duty of the police force as per the constitution.
While the opposition may contest the election results through legal channels, the likelihood of a successful challenge is deemed low, according to Zambia analyst Greg Musiker from advisory firm Signal Risk. Anticipated localized political tensions may arise in the near future, but widespread unrest is not foreseen.