President Hakainde Hichilema has been declared the winner of Zambia’s 2026 Presidential Election, securing a second five-year term and receiving a renewed mandate from the Zambian people to lead the country.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) announced the final presidential results in the early hours of Tuesday, confirming President Hichilema’s victory over his closest challenger, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP).
President Hichilema polled 2,965,326 votes, representing approximately 61.50 percent of the total vote, while Mr Mundubile received 1,856,217 votes, representing approximately 38.50 percent. The final tally gave President Hichilema a commanding majority of 1,109,109 votes.
The result gives President Hichilema another five-year mandate after he first assumed the presidency in 2021. He contested the election on the United Party for National Development (UPND) ticket, while Mr Mundubile was the presidential candidate of NRPUP.
The August 13 election was held against a backdrop of heightened political tensions, with incidents during the campaign and counting process prompting the ECZ to temporarily suspend the tabulation of results. The Commission subsequently resumed the process after the security situation was addressed.
With the declaration of the final result, the focus now shifts from campaigning and electoral competition to governing. President Hichilema faces expectations that his second term will accelerate economic growth, create employment, attract investment and address the cost-of-living pressures affecting many households.
In his message following his re-election, President Hichilema thanked Zambians for placing their confidence in him once again and entrusted him with another five years to serve the nation.
He said the election had demonstrated that Zambia remained a peaceful and democratic country capable of resolving political differences through the ballot box.
The President said his campaign had taken him across all 116 districts, giving him an opportunity to see first-hand the realities facing Zambians in cities, compounds, villages and farming communities.
Those encounters, he said, had reinforced his determination to continue working with citizens to address their challenges and deliver development across the country.
Importantly, President Hichilema extended his message beyond those who voted for him. He reached out to citizens who supported opposition candidates, assuring them that his government would work for every Zambian regardless of political affiliation.
His message was therefore not simply one of electoral victory, but one of reconciliation and national responsibility.
The President also spoke about the children he encountered during the campaign, saying they inspired him to work towards a better Zambia for future generations.
That emphasis places the second-term agenda within a broader vision of national development that extends beyond the immediate political cycle.
President Hichilema called on Zambians to put the election behind them and concentrate on peace, unity, prosperity and development. His appeal comes at a critical moment when political leaders and their supporters have a responsibility to prevent electoral competition from becoming a source of lasting division.
The election has produced a clear result, and the task before the country is now to respect the democratic process and move forward.
For President Hichilema, the second mandate represents both an endorsement and a responsibility. Zambians have given him another five years, but they will also expect tangible improvements in their daily lives and continued progress in the national economy.
As the country enters a new political chapter, the President’s concluding message captures the responsibility shared by government, opposition and citizens alike: “One Zambia, One Nation, One People.”
