Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema will be sworn in for a second five‑year term on Tuesday, following a disputed election that ended with his main opponent, Brian Mundubile, detained on treason charges. The event has drawn international attention as it follows allegations of electoral irregularities and an unprecedented crackdown on political opposition.
On 13 August Hichilema secured 60% of the vote, while Mundubile, who received 38%, claimed that the outcome had been tampered with. He was unable to challenge the results legally, as the courts were sealed off the week before the final day a case could be filed. This step effectively shut the door on judicial review.
U.S. Election Observers noted that polling day was largely peaceful but pointed out significant questions surrounding the tallying process. European Union observers highlighted that staff in many tallying centres delayed recording results on paper as soon as they were announced, and there was weak verification between digital entries and paper records. Returning officers frequently paused proceedings awaiting instructions from headquarters, a situation that raised concerns about transparency.
The day after the poll, security forces raided a property in Lusaka linked to Mundubile, killing a former cabinet minister and arresting several opposition politicians. Authorities accused the opposition of planning an armed insurrection, a claim the opposition denied. Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, had gone into hiding; they were later detained and charged on the weekend.
In 2021, Hichilema entered office following a landslide victory in a country that had recently defaulted on its international debt and was facing an annual inflation rate above 24%. He negotiated a restructuring of the debt and rebuilt relations with foreign creditors, bringing inflation down. However, prices continue to rise, and many citizens still struggle with cost of living. “We inherited a broken‑down country… the economy was declining,” Hichilema told the BBC in Lusaka before the election.
At the forthcoming inauguration ceremony at National Heroes Stadium, Hichilema will be sworn in alongside his running mate, Mutale Nalumango, and African leaders from Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Tanzania are expected to attend. The appointment signals a continuation of his efforts to stabilise Zambia’s economy while also confronting growing political tensions that have already impacted the country’s democratic processes.
