13-08-2026
Zambians have begun voting in a presidential election centered on economic hardship and the performance of President Hakainde Hichilema’s government. Polls opened at 6am local time on August 13, 2026, with about 8.7 million registered voters expected to cast ballots before polling closes 12 hours later. Hichilema, 64, is seeking a second and final five-year term after winning the 2021 election on his sixth attempt.
The election is effectively a test of whether Hichilema’s economic reforms have improved living conditions enough to retain public support. Although inflation fell to 6.8 percent in April and Zambia’s kwacha strengthened, food and energy costs remain high. More than 70 percent of the country’s 22 million people live on less than $3 a day, according to the World Bank, while unemployment is approximately 10 percent. Hichilema is campaigning on job creation and an ambitious infrastructure programme.
His main challenger is Brian Mundubile, a former minister in the Patriotic Front government that ruled Zambia from 2011 to 2021. Mundubile entered the race in May as the candidate of the newly formed NRPUP, an alliance-backed party drawing much of its support from the former governing party. He has accused the government of restricting his party’s campaign and argued that the election is not free and fair. Mundubile has promised a “national reset” and reconciliation, saying Zambia is deeply divided.
The vote is also taking place amid concerns that Zambia’s historically stable democracy has experienced a narrowing of space for dissent under Hichilema’s administration. Voters will additionally elect representatives to 226 parliamentary seats, up from 156 previously. Political support has traditionally followed regional lines, with Hichilema’s party strongest in the south and west, while the Patriotic Front retains support in the north and Copperbelt. Presidential results are expected by August 17, and a candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.
Entities: Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, Brian Mundubile, Patriotic Front (PF), NRPUP party • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
Zambia is set to hold presidential, parliamentary and local government elections, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema widely expected to win a second term. Hichilema, who has led the southern African country since 2021, is campaigning on his handling of Zambia’s economic crisis, including progress on debt restructuring and an economic rebound after the country defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020. However, many voters remain frustrated by the high cost of living and say that improved economic indicators have not yet translated into better daily conditions or sufficient employment.
Hichilema’s main challenger is Brian Mundubile, an experienced parliamentarian and first-time presidential candidate who leads an opposition alliance supported by figures associated with former President Edgar Lungu. Analysts and investors believe the opposition’s internal divisions will make it difficult to defeat the ruling United Party for National Development. Candidates from Mundubile’s party and his running mate’s party are reportedly competing against one another in some constituencies, weakening the opposition’s ability to consolidate support.
Despite the expected advantage for Hichilema, the opposition retains significant backing in Lusaka and Copperbelt Province, both of which have large numbers of registered voters. Analysts say the election could have been much more competitive if opposition parties had united behind a single candidate earlier.
The election campaign has also been accompanied by allegations of political repression, which the government denies. Freedom House rates Zambia as “partly free,” citing legal and practical obstacles facing opposition parties. Polling stations are scheduled to open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with results expected on Monday. A presidential candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright; otherwise, a runoff between the top two candidates must take place within 37 days.
Entities: Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, United Party for National Development (UPND), Brian Mundubile, Edgar Lungu • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
13-08-2026
Zambia’s presidential election is being shaped by the continuing political rivalry between incumbent Hakainde Hichilema and the late Edgar Lungu, whom Hichilema defeated decisively in 2021. Although Lungu died in South Africa in June 2025, tensions between their families and supporters remain central to the campaign. The dispute intensified when Zambia’s government went to court to prevent Lungu’s family from controlling his burial and objecting to Hichilema presiding over a state funeral. South Africa’s supreme court of appeal ultimately ruled in favor of Lungu’s family.
Hichilema is seeking a second term against the Tonse Alliance, an opposition coalition led by Brian Mundubile, a former government chief whip under Lungu. Mundubile’s running mate, Makebi Zulu, represented the Lungu family during the burial dispute, and the opposition has promised to return Lungu’s body to Zambia for a dignified burial. Analysts say the government’s handling of the matter has damaged Hichilema’s image because respect for the dead carries major cultural and political significance in Zambia.
The opposition has also accused Hichilema’s administration of authoritarian behavior, including raids on party offices, the detention of campaign staff, police disruption of opposition rallies, and restrictions on peaceful protests. The government rejects the allegations and contrasts current conditions with Lungu’s treatment of Hichilema before the 2021 election, when Hichilema was repeatedly arrested, media outlets were shut down and the internet was switched off.
Hichilema remains the likely winner, helped by economic stabilization after Zambia’s 2020 debt default, lower inflation, free primary and secondary education, and increased foreign investment in the copper sector. However, many voters say they are not feeling the benefits. Although average annual income has risen since 2021, prices have nearly doubled, and the cost of living may undermine the president’s support among the country’s 8.8 million registered voters.
Entities: Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, Edgar Lungu, Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: analyze
