Zambian president Hichilema has early lead in reelection bid

Matthew Hill and Taonga Mitimingi, Bloomberg News on Aug 15, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Zambia’s president maintained an early lead in elections in which he’s seeking to extend his rule of the copper-rich southern African nation.

Hakainde Hichilema garnered 438,708 votes in 49 of the country’s 226 constituencies announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia late Saturday. His closest rival, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, obtained 351,281, it said. Voter turnout was around 55%, down from about 70% in the last general election.

Since coming to power five years ago, Hichilema has shepherded a debt-restructuring plan that’s been lauded by investors, overseen record copper output in Africa’s second-biggest producer of the metal, and turned the kwacha into the continent’s best-performing currency this year. He’s pledged to continue implementing pro-business reforms if reelected.

Mundubile — an accountant, lawyer and former lead opposition lawmaker — has made the slow trickle-down of Zambia’s macroeconomic recovery a central campaign pledge, with promises to reduce the high cost of living.

The winner of Thursday’s presidential vote needs to secure more than 50% of the valid ballots cast.