Zambia elections: Hakainde Hichilema re-elected president with 60% of the vote

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected for a second five-year term after securing 60% of the valid votes cast, the electoral commission announced. His closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, received 38% of the votes. The remaining 12 candidates trailed far behind. Under Zambia's electoral system, a candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win in the first round, avoiding a runoff. The election result came after a contested process. Mundubile, 55, earlier claimed victory and alleged voting irregularities without providing evidence. Hichilema, 64, said in a statement: 'We are truly humbled by the trust you have placed in our hands.' He emphasized that the election demonstrated Zambia's commitment to peace, law, and order, calling it a 'democratic nation that settles differences at the ballot box, and nowhere else.' He addressed opposition supporters, saying, 'To those who preferred our opponents' ideas, we hear you, and we will continue to work for you.' Hundreds of Hichilema's supporters, dressed in red, the colors of his UPND party, celebrated in Lusaka after the results were declared. Zambia has a history of peaceful presidential transitions since returning to multiparty democracy in 1991. It is unclear if the opposition will challenge the result. Mundubile had previously alleged discrepancies between polling-station and official results, and accused the government of plotting an insurrection, which he denied. Eleven people, including senior opposition figures, were arrested. Mundubile dismissed the accusations as fabrication. A day after polling, the electoral commission briefly suspended counting and result announcements due to reports of violence targeting polling staff and the theft of marked ballot papers in some areas. The suspension was lifted the same day. Regional and international observers described the election day as largely peaceful but raised concerns about late electoral reforms, media freedom, and restrictions on the opposition during the campaign. They warned that the brief suspension risked undermining the credibility of the process and voter confidence. The EU observation mission noted that opposition restrictions may have contributed to an uneven contest.