HICHILEMA DECLARED WINNER OF 2026 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

President Hakainde Hichilema has been declared the winner of Zambia’s 2026 Presidential Election, securing a second term in office. The Electoral Commission of Zambia — ECZ — announced the final presidential results in the early hours of Tuesday, confirming President…

President Hakainde Hichilema has been declared the winner of Zambia’s 2026 Presidential Election, securing a second term in office.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia — ECZ — announced the final presidential results in the early hours of Tuesday, confirming President Hichilema’s victory over his closest challenger, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity — NRPUP.

According to the final ECZ results, President Hichilema polled 2,965,326 votes, representing approximately 61.50 percent of the total vote.

Mr Mundubile received 1,856,217 votes, representing approximately 38.50 percent.

The final results put President Hichilema 1,109,109 votes ahead of Mr Mundubile.

The victory gives President Hichilema another five-year mandate after he first assumed office in 2021.

The election was held on August 13, with Zambians voting for the President, Members of Parliament and local government representatives.

President Hichilema contested the election on the United Party for National Development — UPND — ticket, while Mr Mundubile was the NRPUP candidate.

The election campaign and counting process were marked by heightened political tensions and incidents that prompted the ECZ to temporarily suspend vote counting. The Commission later resumed the process after the security situation was addressed.

President Hichilema’s re-election means the UPND administration will continue for another five years, with the President expected to focus on economic growth, job creation, investment and addressing the cost of living.

The result also marks the beginning of another chapter in Zambia’s political landscape, with attention now turning to the opposition’s response to the outcome and the government’s priorities for its second term.

President Hichilema has called for peace and national unity following the election, while the country awaits the transition into his second term.