Zambia votes in general election as President Hichilema seeks re-election

Zambia commenced its eighth general election on Thursday, August 13, 2026, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema vying for a second five-year term. He faces a consolidated opposition bloc led by lawyer Brian Mundibile.

Around 8.7 million of Zambia's 22 million citizens are registered to vote at 13,500 polling stations, which opened at 6 a.m. local time. Voters will elect the president, members of the National Assembly, and municipal governments. This election is particularly significant for the copper-rich nation, a key player in global energy transition.

Long queues formed before polling stations opened, indicating an expected high turnout. Austin Tembo, a 21-year-old medical student, expressed his eagerness to vote for the first time, stating, "I want the voice of the country's youth to be heard." Another voter, Susan Mwenda, described the process in Lusaka as "calm and peaceful."

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I arrived here shortly after 6 a.m. and found that the queue already reached the door, but I will wait because I want the voice of the country's youth to be heard.

While Hichilema's victory seemed assured until recently, the opposition's unification under Mundibile has created a more competitive race. Hichilema, representing the United Party for National Development (UPND), highlights his economic management as his key achievement. Critics, however, point to unfulfilled promises and economic challenges.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) plans to announce official results on August 17, four days after the vote. This timeline has been contested by the opposition and local observers, who argue it is an unnecessarily long wait for results, especially since vote counting will begin immediately after polls close.

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calm and peaceful