Hakainde Hichilema wins Zambia election for a second term, but the celebrations have been overshadowed by Brian Mundubile’s decision to reject the results.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Hakainde Hichilema the winner following the 13 August 2026 general election. The announcement handed the United Party for National Development leader another five-year mandate.
According to the final figures, Hichilema received 2,965,326 votes. His closest challenger, National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity leader Brian Mundubile, secured 1,856,217 votes.
The result gave Hichilema a winning margin of more than 1.1 million votes. He received approximately 60.5% of the valid votes, while Mundubile finished with around 38%.
However, the opposition leader has refused to concede defeat.
Mundubile says the election battle is not over
Mundubile announced that his party would challenge the results through Zambia’s courts.
He said the president-elect would not be sworn in immediately because the NRPUP was preparing an election petition. His party maintains that several irregularities affected the credibility of the process.
The opposition has questioned the handling of results and events that unfolded during the counting period. Mundubile has also called for an independent investigation into the election.
Therefore, Zambia could face a tense legal battle before the country fully moves into Hichilema’s second term.
The courts will ultimately decide whether the opposition has produced enough evidence to support its claims.
Meanwhile, the UPND has rejected allegations that the vote was manipulated. Party spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa described the election as open and reflective of the people’s will.
He challenged those disputing the results to present their evidence through the correct legal channels.
Election counting disrupted by violence
The election was largely peaceful across much of Zambia. Nevertheless, several serious incidents disrupted the counting process.
The Electoral Commission temporarily suspended the counting and announcement of results after election officials came under attack in some areas.
Reports of stolen ballot papers and attacks on polling staff increased tension. Security officers were subsequently deployed to protect electoral officials and voting materials.
Counting later resumed after the commission received assurances that the situation had been brought under control.
However, another controversial incident unfolded during a security operation at a property where Mundubile was present.
Authorities arrested 11 opposition-linked officials following an operation involving gunfire. The government said officers recovered high-grade military weapons intended to threaten national security.
Mundubile rejected that version of events. He said the arrested officials were unarmed and accused security forces of targeting opposition members.
UN raises concern over opposition arrests
The United Nations human rights chief has now expressed concern over the treatment of opposition figures following the election.
The UN called on Zambian authorities to ensure that every arrest meets international human rights standards. It also urged authorities to bring detained people before the courts without unnecessary delays.
In addition, questions remain over former Lunte MP Mutotwe Kafwaya, whose family says he has been missing since 14 August.
Zambia’s Human Rights Commission has visited several police stations while attempting to establish his location. However, his physical condition and legal status remain unconfirmed.
These developments have placed additional pressure on the government as Mundubile prepares his court challenge.
Election observers highlight serious concerns
The European Union Election Observation Mission described voting day as generally peaceful. Still, it raised concerns about unequal campaign conditions and legal uncertainty.
Observers also highlighted an imbalance in state media coverage. According to the EU mission, Mundubile received no direct speech coverage on national television or national radio during the monitored campaign period.
Despite those concerns, the Electoral Commission completed the count across all constituencies and declared Hichilema the winner.
The opposition must now convince the courts that the issues it identified were serious enough to affect the final result.
Hichilema promises unity after victory
In his first address after being declared the winner, Hichilema thanked Zambians for giving him another mandate.
He promised to serve every citizen, including those who voted for opposition parties. Moreover, he called for national unity following the politically charged election period.
Hichilema enters his second term with several major challenges still facing the country.
His administration has made progress in restructuring Zambia’s debt and restoring relationships with international lenders. It has also attracted new investment into the mining sector and expanded free secondary education.
However, many families continue to struggle with high living costs, unemployment and electricity shortages.
The president has promised to create more jobs, expand the economy and increase copper production. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer, making the mining sector central to his plans.
Still, the immediate focus will remain on Mundubile’s petition and the growing human rights concerns surrounding the election.
Hichilema has secured the numbers needed for another term. However, the political and legal fight over Zambia’s 2026 election is far from finished.
