Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected for a second five-year term after securing 60% of the valid votes cast, according to the country’s electoral commission.
Hichilema defeated his closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, who polled 38%, while the remaining 12 candidates recorded significantly lower figures.
Under Zambia’s electoral system, a presidential candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote to win outright and avoid a second-round runoff.
The result followed a contested electoral process, with Mundubile earlier claiming victory and alleging voting irregularities without providing evidence. He also raised concerns about discrepancies between polling-station results and figures announced by the electoral authorities.
Speaking after being declared the winner, the 64-year-old Hichilema thanked voters for their support.
“We are truly humbled by the trust you have placed in our hands,” he said.
Hichilema described the election as evidence that Zambia remains a peaceful and democratic country where differences are settled through the ballot box.
Following the announcement, hundreds of supporters of Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND), dressed in the party’s red colours, took to the streets of the capital, Lusaka, to celebrate the victory.
The election was not without controversy. The electoral commission briefly suspended the counting and announcement of results a day after voting following reports of violence against polling staff and the theft of marked ballot papers in some areas. The suspension was lifted later the same day.
Regional and international observers described polling day as largely peaceful but raised concerns about late electoral reforms, media freedom and opposition access to the media during the campaign.
The European Union election observation mission also warned that restrictions on opposition activities may have contributed to what it described as an “uneven contest”.
It remains unclear whether the opposition will formally challenge the election results.
