Hichilema Wins Zambia Election With 60 Percent as Copper Boom Seals Second Term

Elections · Zambia

—The stakes. Zambia’s vote tested whether a pro-business president could keep his mandate while managing debt restructuring and copper expansion.

—The date. Zambians voted on 13 August 2026 and the Electoral Commission of Zambia declared the result on 18 August 2026.

—The result. President Hakainde Hichilema won 2,965,326 votes, or 60.49 percent of valid ballots, avoiding a second-round runoff.

—The opposition. Brian Mundubile rejected the tally, alleged vote fraud and pledged a court challenge while UN officials flagged arrests of political opponents.