Zambia's Hichilema on Track for Re-Election as Early Count Shows Strong Lead
Partial results from Zambia's national elections show President Hakainde Hichilema leading with over 54% of declared votes, potentially avoiding a runoff.
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema is positioned for a second term as early vote counting from Thursday's national elections shows him holding a commanding lead. With 105 of 226 constituencies declared by Sunday afternoon, the Electoral Commission of Zambia reported Hichilema securing 54.82% of the votes, translating to 1,056,812 ballots.
His principal rival, Brian Mundubile, trails with 43% of the declared votes, amounting to 830,841 ballots. If Hichilema maintains his current majority, he would avoid a second-round runoff, which is triggered only if no candidate secures at least 50% of the total vote. In such a scenario, a runoff would be held within 37 days of the initial poll.
The presidential race, conducted alongside parliamentary and local elections, serves as a referendum on Hichilema's economic stewardship. His administration inherited a severe debt crisis during the pandemic era, and voters are now weighing whether the subsequent economic recovery in Africa's second-largest copper producer is sufficient to warrant another term.
The vote-counting process has not been without disruption. The Electoral Commission temporarily suspended tallying on Friday, citing incidents of violence against officials and the theft of ballot papers. Meanwhile, police have denied opposition claims that Mundubile was arrested and detained.
As the count continues, attention remains on whether Hichilema can sustain his lead and secure a decisive victory, or if the remaining undeclared constituencies will shift the balance toward a runoff.