Hichilema wins second term as Zambia's president amid election concerns

Zambia's Electoral Commission (ECZ) on August 18 declared Hakainde Hichilema the winner of a second presidential term after he secured 2,965,326 votes against Brian Mundubile's 1,856,217. The result grants him another five years in office since first taking power in 2021.

Mundubile's alliance has expressed concerns over certain aspects of the voting and counting process. Meanwhile, Hichilema's supporters dismissed the allegations, saying the outcome reflects public confidence in the government's direction.

The European Union's election observation mission noted that candidates were able to campaign through rallies and public meetings, but also raised concerns about campaign-related violence, political intimidation, and the media environment. The release of results was briefly interrupted after the Electoral Commission paused proceedings over security worries, including attacks on election officials and theft of already-marked ballots.

Hichilema came to power with a promise to rebuild an economy weakened by debt, restore investor confidence, and foster growth in Africa's second-largest copper producer. His first term focused largely on economic stabilization and restoring international credibility. His second term will face pressure for stronger accountability, national unity, and broader benefits from economic growth.

Professor Lubinda Haabazoka, director of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Zambia, told Al Jazeera that Hichilema's administration has made significant progress in restoring economic stability. "Over the past five years, President Hichilema has tackled the fundamental issues of macroeconomics and made significant progress in debt restructuring," Haabazoka said, adding that foreign reserves have increased, economic growth has recovered, and investment flows into the mining sector have returned. "Recently, the kwacha has stabilized and other fundamentals have stabilized, and I think we are on a growth trajectory."

However, critics argue that those gains have not translated into sufficient support for households facing high living costs. The opposition made the cost of living its main campaign issue, arguing that improvements in economic indicators have not yet eased pressures on families.

During the campaign, Mundubile accused opposition parties of facing an uneven political environment, citing restrictions and concerns over the treatment of political rivals. After the vote, his camp called for scrutiny of the electoral process.

Copper remains central to Zambia's future. As demand rises for the metal used in electric vehicles, renewable energy technology, and other parts of the global energy transition, the country is seeking to boost production and attract more investment. But for many voters, the measure of success will be more than investment figures or economic indicators—it will be whether political stability and rich resources translate into better opportunities.

Elvis Mwape, a taxi driver in Lusaka, welcomed Hichilema's victory but wants people to feel the benefits of growth. "We thank God that Hakainde Hichilema has won and has a second term. We expect a win-win situation where as the economy grows, we can also feed our families," Mwape said.

Vincent Mwale, an independent member of parliament for the newly created Chipangali West constituency, said the election result carries a message for the government. "UPND has retained power, and we did it peacefully. Now I think they need to get down to work. This election should show them where the problems lie," Mwale said. "We want them to work on national unity. The results show there are divisions somewhere, and I'm sure they can see the voting patterns. But I fully trust that President Hichilema can rise to the occasion and bring people together."