2026 Zambian presidential election
Presidential election held in Zambia in 2026
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The 2026 Zambian presidential election was held in Zambia on 13 August 2026 to elect the President of Zambia. Incumbent United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and his running mate, incumbent vice president Mutale Nalumango, were re-elected to a second term in office. They defeated the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) ticket of Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu. Hichilema won by 60% of the vote, while Mundubile received 38% of the total valid votes cast.[1][2]
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13 August 2026
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| Turnout | 57.23% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Presidential results by National Assembly constituency | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hichilema was nominated as the UPND's presidential candidate without opposition at the party's convention on 12 April 2026.[3][4] Meanwhile, the main opposition Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance,[5] which had been formed in November 2024 with the aim of removing the UPND from government, selected Brian Mundubile as its presidential candidate in January 2026.[5] Mundubile was initially expected to contest the election under the FDD ticket, but the alliance later selected the NRPUP as the party under which he would contest. He subsequently dropped the FDD ticket and filed his presidential nomination under the NRPUP ticket.[6]
The election was initially contested by 14 candidates. However, Xavier Chungu of the Liberal Democratic Party withdrew his candidature while in detention after spending several weeks in custody[7] and being unable to campaign.[8][9] The Electoral Commission of Zambia formally announced his withdrawal on 12 August, one day before polling. As ballot papers had already been printed, the ECZ stated that votes cast for Chungu would not be counted as valid votes.The other candidates included Harry Kalaba of Citizens First, Fred M'membe of the Socialist Party, Given Katuta Mwelwa as an independent, Kelvin Bwalya of Zambia Must Prosper, and Brian Mushimba of the Organised People's Party.[10]
The presidential election was held concurrently with elections for the National Assembly and local government as part of the 2026 Zambian general election. The president was elected using the two-round system, with a second round required if no candidate received more than 50% of the valid vote.[11] Hichilema surpassed the threshold in the first round, winning re-election without a runoff. The Electoral Commission temporarily suspended the counting of votes on 14 August following reported threats and attacks against election staff, before counting later resumed.[12]
Following the declaration of the results on 18 August, Hichilema thanked voters for their support, while Mundubile rejected the result and said that he and his party would challenge the outcome through legal channels[13][14] alleging vote fraud in the contest that handed President Hakainde Hichilema a second term in office.[15]
Background
The 2026 presidential election was the first presidential contest for Hakainde Hichilema since he defeated incumbent president Edgar Lungu in the 2021. Hichilema's victory brought the UPND to power after the Patriotic Front's ten-year period in government.[16] The 2021 election was widely seen as a referendum on Lungu's administration, which had faced criticism over economic difficulties, unemployment, public debt and allegations concerning governance and human rights.[17]
During Hichilema's first term, the government's economic record became the central issue likely to determine the presidential election.[18] Hichilema's administration inherited a country that had defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020 and subsequently pursued a major debt-restructuring programme.[19] The government also sought to restore relations with international lenders, attract foreign investment and expand production in the copper sector.[20]
The government presented the debt restructuring and improving macroeconomic conditions as evidence of an economic recovery.[21] However, the recovery did not benefit all households equally. The cost of living, unemployment, poverty and electricity shortages[22] remained important concerns, particularly among young people and lower-income voters.[21] The election was consequently expected to serve as a test of whether improvements in economic indicators had translated into better living conditions for the wider population.[23]
Hichilema's position as the UPND's presidential candidate was confirmed at the party's convention in April 2026, where he was nominated without opposition. He campaigned for a second term on the record of his administration and on a programme of continued economic recovery and investment.[24]
The opposition attempted to consolidate behind the Tonse Alliance, which had been established in November 2024 with the objective of defeating the UPND in the presidential election. In January 2026, the alliance selected Brian Mundubile, a former member of parliament and former ally of Lungu, as its presidential candidate. Mundubile was initially expected to contest under the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) ticket, but he later filed his nomination under the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP).[5][6]
The death of Edgar Lungu in 2025 further reshaped the presidential contest.[18] Although Lungu was not a candidate, his political legacy continued to influence the opposition campaign. His supporters became an important part of the coalition backing Mundubile, while the rivalry between Lungu and Hichilema continued to shape political debate.[25]
A dispute between Lungu's family and the Zambian government over the former president's burial intensified the political confrontation.[26][27] The disagreement was used by opposition figures to accuse the government of disrespecting Lungu and his family, while the government maintained its position regarding the burial arrangements. The dispute became a prominent issue during the campaign and helped turn the election into a contest not only over Hichilema's record, but also over Lungu's political legacy.[28]
Although 14 candidates were initially nominated,[29] the presidential race was principally viewed as a contest between Hichilema and Mundubile. Hichilema sought to retain power by presenting his first-term economic programme as the basis for continued recovery, while Mundubile sought to unite the opposition and mobilise support associated with Lungu's former political base. Other presidential candidates, including Harry Kalaba, Fred M'membe, Given Katuta Mwelwa, Kelvin Bwalya Fube and Brian Mushimba, competed for votes but did not command the same level of support as the two leading candidates.[30]
Campaign
After the presidential nominations, the Electoral Commission of Zambia introduced a timetable for campaign activities, including rallies and other events involving the presidential candidates.[31] The official campaign period ran from 21 May to 12 August 2026.[32]
Hichilema campaigned for a second term by pointing to his government's economic record.[33] His campaign highlighted Zambia's debt-restructuring programme, the restoration of relations with international lenders, investment in the copper industry and the expansion of public services.[34] The UPND campaign also promised to continue efforts to reduce the cost of living, create jobs, expand free education and support agriculture and social-protection programmes.[35]
The opposition's mian campaign message focused on the economic difficulties faced by many Zambians. Mundubile argued that the high cost of living, unemployment and economic hardship showed the failure of the government's policies.[36] He campaigned on reducing living costs, strengthening agriculture and manufacturing, creating opportunities for young people and restoring what he described as democratic freedoms.[37] The opposition's other message campaign was also influenced by the unresolved burial of former president Edgar Lungu, who died in June 2025.[38][39] At a campaign rally in Chinsali, Mundubile said that he and Makebi Zulu would give Lungu a dignified burial if elected. The statement prompted State House to question whether Lungu had wished to be buried under a future Mundubile government. The Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance also drew support from sections of the opposition associated with Lungu and the former Patriotic Front government.[40] The dispute between Lungu's family and the government over his burial became an issue during the campaign and added to tensions between Lungu's supporters and the government of Hichilema.
Another challenger was Xavier Chungu, a former director-general of the Zambia Security Intelligence Service.[41] Chungu was arrested on 28 May 2026 and charged with offences including violations of the State Security Act and sedition.[42] He remained in detention during the campaign and was unable to campaign for the presidency. Chungu later withdrew from the election and endorsed Brian Mundubile of the NRPUP.[43]
As polling day approached, the presidential campaign became more competitive. Hichilema held a final rally in Lusaka, where he urged voters to give him a second term to continue his economic programme. Mundubile accused the authorities of using arrests and other measures to intimidate opposition supporters. The government denied the allegations.[44]
Electoral results
The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared incumbent president Hakainde Hichilema the winner of the presidential election on 18 August 2026. Hichilema, standing for a second term with Mutale Nalumango as his running mate beat his main challenger, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP). Hichilema therefore won by 1,109,109 votes and exceeded the 50% threshold required to win the presidency in the first round.[45][46]
Hichilema won the presidential vote in 124 of the 226 constituencies, while Mundubile led in 102. The result represented a second consecutive presidential victory for Hichilema, who had defeated Edgar Lungu in the 2021 presidential election.[47] The election recorded 5,028,606 ballots cast from 8,786,300 registered voters, representing a turnout of 57.23%. Of the ballots cast, 4,902,050 were valid and 126,556 were rejected.[48]
The results were announced after the ECZ temporarily suspended the counting process on 14 August. The commission cited threats and attacks against election staff, including incidents involving the theft of marked ballot papers. Counting later resumed, and results from all constituencies were eventually included in the national tally.[49] Mundubile rejected the result and stated that he and his party would challenge Hichilema's victory through the courts, alleging irregularities and electoral fraud.[50].
| Candidate | Running mate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hakainde Hichilema | Mutale Nalumango | UPND | 2,965,326 | 60.49 | |
| Brian Mundubile | Makebi Zulu | NRPUP | 1,856,217 | 37.87 | |
| Harry Kalaba | Moses Mawere | Citizens First | 19,070 | 0.39 | |
| Kelvin Bwalya | Milner Katolo | Zambia Must Prosper | 17,078 | 0.35 | |
| Fred M'membe | Dolika Banda | Socialist Party | 12,194 | 0.25 | |
| Given Katuta | John Nyirenda | Independent | 7,574 | 0.15 | |
| Given Chansa | Harrison Chewe | Movement for Economic Emancipation | 6,650 | 0.14 | |
| Brian Mushimba | Andyford Banda | Organised People's Party | 6,269 | 0.13 | |
| Richard Silumbe | Kaela Kamwenesha | Leadership Movement | 3,304 | 0.07 | |
| Howard Kunda | Chipo Miyoba | Zambia Wake-Up Party | 2,561 | 0.05 | |
| Ackim Njobvu | — | Democratic Union | 2,496 | 0.05 | |
| Richwell Siamunene | — | New Focus Party | 1,963 | 0.04 | |
| Daniel Pule | — | Christian Democratic Party | 1,348 | 0.03 | |
| 0 | 0.00 | ||||
| Total | 4,902,050 | 100.00 | |||
| Valid votes | 4,902,050 | 97.48 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 126,566 | 2.52 | |||
| Total votes | 5,028,616 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 8,786,300 | 57.23 | |||
| Source: Zambia Decides[51] | |||||
Aftermath
Following his victory, Hichilema thanked voters for their support and said his administration would focus on national unity, peace and development. He also said his government would address concerns raised by voters who supported opposition candidates.
Brian Mundubile rejected the presidential election result and said that he and his party would challenge the outcome through legal channels. Harry Kalaba described the election as deeply flawed and called for an independent review of the electoral process.