Zambians vote as Hichilema seeks second term against Mundubile

Zambians went to the polls on August 13, 2026, to choose a president, members of parliament and local councillors, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term.

Hichilema, 64, faces Brian Mundubile, 55, who leads the opposition Tonse Alliance and previously served as government chief whip under former president Edgar Lungu. Nearly 8.8 million people are registered to vote.

The campaign has unfolded against the continuing political dispute surrounding Lungu, who died in South Africa in June 2025. Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, have promised to return Lungu’s body to Zambia for burial. A South African appeals court ruled in June 2026 in favour of Lungu’s family in its dispute with the Zambian government over funeral arrangements.

Opposition representatives have accused the Hichilema administration of disrupting rallies and detaining campaign staff. The governing United Party for National Development has rejected claims of repression and said opposition parties have been able to campaign nationwide. Transparency International Zambia said its monitors recorded police disruptions that appeared to affect opposition and independent candidates more often than the ruling party.

The economy is also central to the vote. Zambia’s annual inflation has fallen to 6.5 percent from 24.6 percent in July 2021, and the government introduced free primary and secondary education in 2022. The country has also attracted investment linked to its copper reserves.

However, household pressure remains a significant issue. World Bank data cited by The Guardian shows average annual income rose from $1,127 in 2021 to $1,318 in 2025, while prices nearly doubled over the same period.

The vote will determine whether Hichilema receives another term after first defeating Lungu in 2021, or whether the Tonse Alliance converts dissatisfaction over living costs and political tensions into an electoral change.