Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema took a commanding lead in the general election, putting him on course to secure a second term at the helm of Africa’s second-biggest copper producer.
With more than half of the constituencies having reported following last week’s polls, official results showed Hichilema securing roughly 58% of the vote, against main challenger Brian Mundubile’s 40%. Under Zambian law, a candidate needs more than 50% to avoid a runoff.
The vote served as a test of Hichilema’s post-default debt restructuring against opposition pushback over persistent food inflation. A brief counting pause on Friday drew scrutiny from regional SADC and EU observer missions, but the Electoral Commission of Zambia expects final certified results by late Monday as international markets monitor the outcome for policy continuity.
