Zambians headed to the polls on Thursday for presidential, parliamentary and local government elections, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema widely expected to secure a second term after five years marked by debt restructuring and an economic recovery.
According to Reuters, voting opened at 6 a.m. on August 13, 2026, across the southern African country of about 22 million people and is scheduled to close at 6 p.m., with election results expected on Monday.
President Hakainde Hichilema, who has led Zambia since 2021, is campaigning largely on his economic record, while concerns over the cost of living remain an important issue for voters despite improvements in broader economic indicators.
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Zambia’s Election Puts President Hakainde Hichilema’s Economic Record Under the Spotlight
Hichilema’s first term has included steering one of Africa’s largest copper-producing economies through a restructuring of its sovereign debt after Zambia became the continent’s first pandemic-era sovereign defaulter in 2020.
His main challenger is Brian Mundubile, an experienced parliamentarian contesting the presidency for the first time. He leads an opposition alliance supported by followers of Hichilema’s predecessor, the late former President Edgar Lungu.
Reuters reported that economic conditions are playing an important role in voters’ decisions. While some voters credited Hichilema with improvements, including the restoration of meal allowances for university students, others said improvements in headline economic indicators have yet to sufficiently ease pressure on household finances.
The cost of living is considered one of the incumbent president’s principal vulnerabilities in the election, with some Zambians expressing dissatisfaction over the difference between the country’s economic recovery and their everyday financial circumstances.
According to political science lecturer Lee Habasonda of the University of Zambia, the opposition has support in Lusaka and the Copperbelt Province, which contain significant numbers of registered voters, while Hichilema’s ruling party is expected to perform more strongly in rural areas.
The election is also taking place amid concerns over political competition. Reuters reported that allegations of political repression have emerged during the run-up to voting, although the government has denied them.
Under Zambia’s electoral system, a presidential candidate must receive more than 50% of votes cast to win outright. If no candidate crosses that threshold, the two leading candidates will contest a second round within 37 days.
What This Means For Africa
Zambia’s election is significant beyond its borders because the country is an important African copper producer and has spent recent years rebuilding its economy following sovereign default.
For President Hakainde Hichilema, the vote represents a public test of whether progress on debt restructuring and economic recovery has translated into sufficient confidence among Zambians to secure another five years in office.
The outcome will also be closely watched by investors monitoring Zambia’s economic policies, mining sector and post-default recovery, particularly as the country seeks to convert its substantial copper resources into stronger economic growth.
At the same time, voters’ concerns over living costs demonstrate that improving macroeconomic indicators do not automatically translate into immediate improvements in household finances, making the ability to deliver broadly felt economic gains an important challenge for Zambia’s next administration.
With results expected on Monday, attention will now turn to voter turnout, the performance of the two leading candidates and whether either secures the majority required to avoid a presidential run-off.
Zambia’s 2026 election puts President Hakainde Hichilema’s economic record before voters, with his post-default recovery efforts facing a crucial test against persistent concerns over the cost of living.
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Image Credit: Aljazeera
