Hichilema Wins Second Term as Zambia Election Draws Fraud and Fairness Concerns

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has won re-election with about 60 percent of the votes cast, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) announced on Tuesday, securing a second term after an election that was marred by opposition allegations of irregularities and concerns over the political environment.

Hichilema, who came to power in 2021, faced 13 challengers in the August 13 presidential election.

His closest challenger was former provincial minister Brian Mundubile, who secured nearly 38 percent of the vote, according to ECZ chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis.

Five of the country's 226 constituencies had yet to be tallied when the result was announced. Zaloumis said the outstanding results were not expected to materially alter the overall outcome.

Opposition raises concerns over election

The election was held against a backdrop of accusations that the political environment had become increasingly restrictive ahead of the vote.

Opposition parties and civil society organisations had raised concerns over restrictions on campaigning and what they described as a shrinking democratic space.

International and domestic observer missions also raised concerns over the conditions surrounding the election, saying they contributed to an uneven playing field.

The allegations have cast a shadow over Hichilema's victory, despite the decisive margin separating him from his main challenger.

Tallying suspended after attacks

The election process was further disrupted by an unprecedented nationwide suspension of vote tallying.

The Electoral Commission halted the tallying process following attacks on election officials and the reported theft of marked ballot papers.

The incidents raised concerns over the integrity of the counting process and contributed to tensions surrounding the announcement of the final results.

The opposition had already been warning about possible irregularities before the polls, making the disruptions particularly sensitive.

Opposition figures arrested

Political tensions intensified after the election when authorities arrested nearly a dozen people, including senior opposition figures, during a security operation that reportedly involved an exchange of gunfire.

The government said those arrested were linked to militia or insurgent activities allegedly connected to the election.

Mundubile's NRPUP party rejected the allegations.

The arrests added to concerns among opposition groups and civil society organisations over the broader political environment surrounding the election.

Economic record central to Hichilema's campaign

Despite the controversy surrounding the election, the vote was also widely viewed as a referendum on Hichilema's performance during his first term.

The president took office in 2021 as Zambia struggled with severe fiscal pressures and the consequences of years of economic difficulties.

During his first term, the economy returned to growth, providing one of the central arguments for his re-election campaign.

Hichilema's administration has sought to stabilise public finances and restore investor confidence while navigating Zambia's debt challenges.

His second-term victory now gives him another mandate to pursue his economic programme.

A decisive victory amid political tensions

The result gives Hichilema a clear electoral mandate, but the concerns raised during the campaign and counting process are likely to remain part of the political debate surrounding his second term.

The opposition's allegations, the disruption of tallying and the arrests following the election have raised questions about the state of Zambia's democratic institutions.

With five constituencies still outstanding when the result was announced, the electoral commission said they were unlikely to affect the overall outcome.

Hichilema will therefore return to office for another term, but his administration faces the challenge of addressing concerns over political freedoms and electoral credibility while maintaining the economic gains recorded during his first term.