Zambia heads to polls with President Hichilema expected to win second term
Summary
Zambia held general elections on August 13, 2026, with President Hakainde Hichilema expected to win a second term. The vote also tested public reaction to rising living costs, and the opposition faced challenges due to internal divisions.Key Facts
- Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has been in office since 2021 and is running for re-election.
- Hichilema's government guided Zambia through debt restructuring after the country defaulted on its debt in 2020.
- The main challenger, Brian Mundubile, leads an opposition coalition but is a first-time presidential candidate.
- Zambia requires a candidate to get over 50% of votes to win outright; otherwise, a runoff occurs between the top two.
- Opposition parties are divided, with candidates from allied parties competing against each other in some areas.
- Despite improved economic indicators and lower inflation, many Zambians feel daily life remains difficult.
- There have been some accusations of political repression ahead of the vote, but the government denies them.
- Zambia is rated as "partly free" by Freedom House, noting obstacles for opposition parties during elections.
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