Zambia is holding a general election in which incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development is seeking a second term against 14 opponents, with Brian Mundubile — a former ally of the late President Edgar Lungu and the candidate of a coalition of opposition parties — emerging as the principal challenger. Up to 8.7 million voters are eligible to participate, and polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Zambia holds general election with incumbent Hichilema facing 14 challengers
Zambia is holding a general election in which incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development is seeking a second term against 14 opponents, with Brian Mundubile — a former ally of the late President Edgar Lungu and the candidate of a coalition of opposition parties — emerging as the principal challenger. Up to 8.7 million voters are eligible to participate, and polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Electoral Commission announced in April that 70 new constituencies would be added, raising the number of parliamentary seats from 156 to 226 and creating smaller, more local voting districts. Voters will elect a president, National Assembly members, mayors, councilors, and council chairs.
To win the presidency outright, a candidate must secure more than 50% of votes cast. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the two highest-scoring candidates will contest a second round.
Official data cited in reporting shows that more than 70% of Zambia's population lives on less than three dollars a day, and many households earn between roughly $60 and $100 a month while grocery prices continue to rise.
The Hichilema government has secured a debt restructuring agreement, restored an International Monetary Fund program, and recorded inflation of 6.5% in June of this year. The administration has also introduced free education and an expanded Constituency Development Fund that allocates public money directly to constituencies for local development projects.
A significant drought, described as historic, damaged agricultural output and forced severe electricity load-shedding, adding pressure to household finances.
Nearly half of registered voters are aged between 18 and 35, according to Institute for Security Studies researcher Zenge Simakoloyi. The high youth turnout that contributed to Hichilema's 2021 landslide is expected to again be a significant factor, particularly in urban districts, according to reporting by Agence France-Presse.
Analysts say urban centers such as Lusaka and the Copperbelt, where cost-of-living pressures are most pronounced, will be key to the outcome, while rural areas in the Southern, Western, and North-Western provinces have historically supported the UPND and the Northern, Luapula, and Eastern provinces have leaned toward the opposition.
Women make up roughly 51% of Zambia's population but hold approximately 15% of parliamentary seats and fewer than 20% of political leadership positions. There is one female presidential candidate and four female running mates in this election.
In 2024, President Hichilema suspended three Constitutional Court judges who had ruled in favor of his rival, former President Edgar Lungu. In 2025, the government approved a salary increase for judges outside what lawyers described as the proper constitutional procedure, and in early 2026 appointed 16 new judges, many of whom are reported to be from the incumbent's strongholds.
Amnesty International has stated that Zambian laws, including the Public Order Act and cybercrime legislation, have been used to restrict dissent, opposition gatherings, and freedom of expression, and warned that criminal charges against government critics could have a chilling effect on political expression.
Zambia's election is being watched regionally as a gauge of democratic norms within the Southern African Development Community, particularly following recent electoral defeats of incumbents in Botswana and Malawi.
Where sources differ
- Inflation figures differ by source and reference period: Deutsche Welle reports 6.5 percent in June, while Al Jazeera cites the Zambia Statistics Agency placing inflation at 6.8 percent in April.
- Poverty estimates differ: Deutsche Welle cites official data that more than 70 percent of the population lives on less than three dollars a day, while Al Jazeera cites analyst Levy Ndou placing 60 percent of the population below the national poverty line — two distinct measures that are not directly comparable.
- No direct statements from Brian Mundubile or his campaign are included in the source.
- No direct statements from the Hichilema government or UPND responding to judicial independence allegations are included.
- The source does not detail the specific rulings made by the three suspended Constitutional Court judges or the legal outcome of those suspensions.
- The source does not specify which polling organizations, if any, have published vote-intention surveys or what margins they show.
- The source does not explain how or whether the opposition coalition backing Mundubile is formally structured.
- Deutsche Welle — original — by Glory Mushinge
- Al Jazeera English — by Enos Denhere
Read the original at Deutsche Welle