The mineral-rich southern African nation of 22 million people heads to the polls Thursday in a general election widely expected to hand incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema a second term.

With Zambia’s presidential election just days away, residents of the capital Lusaka are hoping Thursday’s vote will bring meaningful change.

Zambians vote Thursday in a closely watched presidential election that will test whether recent economic gains can offset frustration over the high cost of living in one of…