Zambians went to the polls on August 13, 2026, in a high-stakes general election where incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema is heavily favored to secure a second term. The vote follows a dramatic campaign period shadowed by a fierce political feud over the late former president Edgar Lungu.
Voters across Zambia cast ballots in presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections simultaneously. Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) and closed at 6 p.m., with election officials expecting results to be released on Monday.
The presidential contest required a candidate to secure more than 50 percent of the total votes cast to avoid a run-off within 37 days of the first poll. Almost 8.8 million registered voters participated in the election, deciding races for the presidency alongside members of parliament and local councillors across the country.
Economic Gains Clash With Cost-of-Living Pressures
President Hichilema campaigned heavily on his economic record, steering the southern African copper producer through a structured recovery since the nation defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020 under his predecessor Reuters. Annual inflation stabilized at 6.5%, a sharp decline from 24.6% recorded in July 2021, while international investment surged amid high demand for copper used in green technologies according to reports.
Yet, everyday economic realities complicated the incumbent’s path. World Bank data showed that average annual income rose from $1,127 to $1,318 between 2021 and 2025, but prices almost doubled over the same period, leaving many citizens questioning the tangible impact of macroeconomic progress on the ground.
“I have just come from firing someone.”
Samuel Chitendwe, welder and voter, via The Guardian
On the other hand, student voters offered strong backing for the administration. Hichilema fulfilled a key campaign pledge by restoring university meal allowances and, at the start of the month, increased student accommodation allowances by 50% with immediate effect.
The Shadow of Edgar Lungu and the Tonse Alliance Challenge
Hichilema, 64, faced a formidable challenger in first-time presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, 55, who led the Tonse Alliance of opposition parties. Mundubile served as government chief whip under Lungu, and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, represented the Lungu family during an intense legal battle over the late former president’s burial following his death in South Africa in June 2025.
The bitter feud between Hichilema and Lungu’s camp persisted long after Lungu died, as Zambia’s government attempted to block the family from holding private burial arrangements instead of a state funeral overseen by the current administration in legal proceedings. In June, South Africa’s supreme court of appeal ruled in favor of the Lungu family overturning prior high court decisions.
Christopher Vandome, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, noted that cultural traditions surrounding death carry immense weight in Zambia, making the ongoing dispute a delicate political vulnerability for the incumbent according to expert analysis.
“When it appears things get messy, it just makes the incumbent look disrespectful.”
Christopher Vandome, senior research fellow at Chatham House, via The Guardian
Campaign Fairness and Allegations of Political Repression
The lead-up to the vote involved sharp disputes over political freedoms. The Tonse Alliance accused Hichilema’s administration of utilizing authoritarian tactics, citing the raid on opposition offices and the detention of 36 members of Mundubile’s team during the campaign.
Ruling party representatives vehemently denied the allegations, pointing out the stark contrast with past suppression under the previous government in official statements.
“Zambians know what repression looks like.”
Spokesperson for the ruling United Party for National Development, via The Guardian
Independent monitors from Transparency International Zambia observed that police interruptions of rallies tended to be applied unevenly against opposition groups.
Freedom House classifies Zambia as “partly free,” noting that while regular multi-party elections occur, opposition entities encounter substantial practical obstacles to fair competition.
Regional Voting Dynamics and Incumbent Prospects
Geographical voting splits played a crucial role in the outcome. University of Zambia political science lecturer Lee Habasonda noted that the opposition maintained robust support bases in urban centers like Lusaka and the Copperbelt Province, which feature high concentrations of registered voters, whereas the ruling party retained stronger rural backing according to academic analysis.
Analysts observed that despite Hichilema’s overwhelming statistical advantage, his cautious political posture stemmed directly from his turbulent history in opposition politics prior to taking office.
“[Hichilema’s] prospects of winning are very high. But his … personal lived experience of how complicated Zambian elections can be has given him this insecurity which is actually counting against him … denting his image in a way he doesn’t have to.”
Christopher Vandome, senior research fellow at Chatham House, via The Guardian
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