Hichilema declared winner of Zambia’s tightly contested election

55 Views LUSAKA — Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has been declared the winner of Zambia’s 13 August 2026 general election, securing a second term after a tightly contested presidential race. Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson and Presidential Returning Officer Mwangala Zalomisi declared Hichilema the winner after the commission completed the announcement of the presidential […]

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President Hichilema

LUSAKA — Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has been declared the winner of Zambia’s 13 August 2026 general election, securing a second term after a tightly contested presidential race.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson and Presidential Returning Officer Mwangala Zalomisi declared Hichilema the winner after the commission completed the announcement of the presidential results.

Hichilema polled 2,965,326 votes, defeating his closest challenger, NRP-UP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, who received 1,856,217 votes.

The declaration brings to an end the official counting and announcement process following an election that was closely watched nationally and internationally amid a highly competitive campaign between Hichilema and Mundubile.

Hichilema thanks voters

Shortly after the declaration, President Hichilema took to Facebook to thank Zambians for renewing his mandate.

He said the election had demonstrated Zambia’s identity as a peaceful and democratic country that resolves political differences through the ballot.

Hichilema also acknowledged voters who supported his opponents, saying his administration would continue working for all Zambians regardless of how they voted.

He pledged to return to work with a renewed focus on development, unity and improving the lives of citizens across the country.

“The people have spoken and we now turn our focus to building even greater peace and prosperity,” Hichilema said.

He concluded by reaffirming the country’s longstanding motto: “One Zambia, One Nation, One people.”

Mundubile camp yet to formally respond

Brian Mundubile had not issued a formal response to the ECZ declaration by the time of publication.

The NRP-UP campaign had, however, raised a number of concerns during the election, counting and post-election period, including the detention of members of its campaign and security teams and incidents surrounding its presidential candidate.

In an emotional post following the declaration, NRP-UP Presidential Office Chairperson Binwell Mpundu appeared to suggest that the opposition had failed to secure what he described as a victory delivered by voters.

“You did your part. You voted and delivered us a victory but we failed to secure that victory,” Mpundu wrote.

He further accused unnamed individuals of having “stolen your victory,” without providing details in the statement.

Constitutional Court option remains open

The NRP-UP and other opposition parties have the constitutional right to challenge the presidential election result through the Constitutional Court if they choose to do so.

It was not immediately clear whether the Mundubile campaign intends to petition the result, or what specific legal steps the opposition may take following the ECZ declaration.

For now, the ECZ declaration makes Hichilema the president-elect for a second term, subject to any constitutionally provided legal challenge to the result.