Hakainde Hichilema wins a second term as Zambia’s president
He won just over 60% of the vote, promising to build on the copper-led economic recovery.
Key points
- Hakainde Hichilema of the UPND won Zambia’s 13 August 2026 presidential election with 2,965,326 votes, or 60.49%.
- His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, won 37.87%; turnout was 57.23%.
- The Electoral Commission declared Hichilema president-elect on 18 August, and he was sworn in for a second term on 1 September 2026.
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has won a second five-year term. He took 60.49% of the vote in the general election on 13 August 2026, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The result
- Hakainde Hichilema (United Party for National Development): 2,965,326 votes, 60.49%.
- Brian Mundubile (National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity): 1,856,217 votes, 37.87%.
Turnout was 57.23%, down about 13 points on 2021. Electoral Commission chair Mwangala Zaloumis declared Hichilema president-elect on 18 August, and he was sworn in on 1 September.
What voters were weighing
Hichilema campaigned on his economic record and promises of further growth, after a term dominated by debt restructuring and efforts to expand copper output. Reports noted that cost-of-living pressures dented his support in some areas.
What's next
As we explained before the vote, Zambia's election mattered far beyond Zambia because of the country's copper, which is vital to the global energy transition. Hichilema's second term will be judged on whether Zambia captures more value from that mineral wealth.
Sources
Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or tell us.
