Hichilema maintains lead as Mundubile continues to dominate North and East in 70 constituencies

45 ViewsLUSAKA — President Hakainde Hichilema has maintained the overall lead in Zambia’s presidential election as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) continues announcing results from constituencies across the country. With results from 70 of the 226 constituencies now consolidated, Hichilema is leading Brian Mundubile with 626,434 votes against Mundubile’s 505,795. The latest figures continue […]

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LUSAKA — President Hakainde Hichilema has maintained the overall lead in Zambia’s presidential election as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) continues announcing results from constituencies across the country.

With results from 70 of the 226 constituencies now consolidated, Hichilema is leading Brian Mundubile with 626,434 votes against Mundubile’s 505,795.

The latest figures continue to show a sharply divided two-horse race, with Mundubile maintaining strong support across parts of Northern, Luapula, Muchinga, Eastern and Copperbelt provinces, while Hichilema is recording particularly large margins in Southern and Western provinces as well as parts of rural Lusaka and Central Province.

The overall difference between the two candidates in the 70 constituencies is 120,639 votes.

Mundubile continues to demonstrate considerable strength in Luapula Province.

In Mansa West Constituency, Luapula Province, Mundubile polled 13,993 votes against Hichilema’s 3,302. In Chembe Constituency, Mundubile received 7,815 votes, while Hichilema recorded 2,403.

The pattern is similar in several other constituencies in the northern and eastern parts of the country, where Mundubile has been able to build substantial margins.

However, Hichilema is making up significant ground through large victories in his traditional strongholds.

In Mwandi Constituency in Western Province, Hichilema polled 12,047 votes against just 411 for Mundubile.

In Monze Central Constituency in Southern Province, Hichilema secured 21,509 votes compared with Mundubile’s 968.

Hichilema also recorded a commanding victory in Itezhi-Tezhi West Constituency, where he received 14,707 votes against Mundubile’s 332.

A similarly overwhelming margin was recorded in Zambezi West Constituency in North-Western Province, where Hichilema polled 6,250 votes against Mundubile’s 25.

The figures illustrate the importance of margins in the presidential contest. While Mundubile has been winning a larger number of constituencies in several northern and eastern areas, Hichilema’s victories in parts of Southern and Western provinces have often come by exceptionally wide margins.

The latest results from Lusaka Province also show a more competitive picture.

In Chilanga South, Hichilema received 13,605 votes against Mundubile’s 7,710. However, in Chongwe West, Mundubile narrowly edged Hichilema, polling 16,367 against 15,604.

In Kafue East, Hichilema secured 13,922 votes while Mundubile received 8,145.

Central Province has also produced mixed results. In Kembe East Constituency in Chibombo District, Hichilema registered 20,706 votes against Mundubile’s 4,015. But in Lukusashi Constituency, the contest was much closer, with Hichilema on 3,885 and Mundubile on 3,480.

The emerging picture therefore remains one of a highly concentrated electoral battle between the two leading candidates.

Mundubile is continuing to pile up votes across constituencies where he enjoys strong support, particularly in Luapula and parts of Northern and Eastern Zambia. Hichilema, meanwhile, is gaining substantial numbers from constituencies where his support is particularly deep, especially in Southern Province and parts of Western and Central Zambia.

With 156 constituencies still outstanding from the 226, the overall presidential race remains open, despite Hichilema’s current consolidated lead.

The ECZ is continuing the verification, consolidation and announcement of results, with the presidential winner to be determined on the basis of the final national tally.

For now, the results continue to confirm what has emerged throughout the count: Zambia’s presidential contest has effectively become a two-horse race, with Mundubile commanding significant geographical support in the north and east, while Hichilema’s strongest margins are coming from Southern, Western and parts of Central and Lusaka provinces.