Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema built a substantial lead in the country’s presidential election on Monday as vote counting continued, putting him on course for a second term after a campaign centred on economic recovery.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia said Hichilema had secured 2,057,986 votes to 1,190,920 for his closest challenger, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, from 161 of the country’s 226 constituencies, a lead of 867,066 votes. On a two-candidate basis, that puts Hichilema at around 62% of the vote, up from 59% a day earlier, with 65 constituencies still to be counted. No winner has yet been formally declared.
Hichilema, 64, took office in 2021 after steering Zambia through a sovereign debt default and a subsequent restructuring of $6.3 billion in external debt via the G20 Common Framework. His campaign has pointed to falling inflation, now at its lowest in eight years, expanding copper output, and free primary and secondary education as signature achievements, while promising further job creation and continued fiscal discipline if re-elected.
Mundubile, who leads an opposition alliance, has campaigned on lowering living costs, improving agriculture and restoring democratic space, accusing Hichilema’s government of narrowing space for dissent — an allegation the government denies. Vote counting was briefly suspended earlier in the week following reports of violence and alleged interference at some polling stations, prompting concern from international observers including the European Union and the Southern African Development Community.
Under Zambian law, a candidate must win more than 50% of the valid vote to avoid a run-off. The Electoral Commission said it expects to complete counting of the remaining constituencies within the coming days.
