Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second term in office after winning the presidential election with 2,965,326 votes, representing 60.49 per cent of the valid vote.
His closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, garnered 1,856,217 votes, translating to 37.87 per cent.
Hichilema welcomed the outcome on Tuesday, August 18, saying the election had reaffirmed Zambia’s reputation as a peaceful and democratic country.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. Photo: Courtesy.
The President said his campaign across all 116 districts gave him an opportunity to engage directly with citizens and understand the challenges affecting communities across the country.
He said the new mandate would be used to accelerate development and address the concerns raised by voters during the campaign.
Hichilema also extended his message to citizens who voted for other candidates, promising that his administration would serve all Zambians without regard to political affiliation.
The President called for national unity following the election and urged citizens to work together as his administration begins its next phase of governance, with a focus on economic development, peace and prosperity.
Hichilema’s re-election marks another milestone in a political career that spans two decades.
He entered presidential politics in 2006 after taking over leadership of the United Party for National Development (UPND) following the death of party founder Anderson Mazoka.
His first presidential bid in 2006 ended with a third-place finish. He again finished third in the 2008 election held after the death of President Levy Mwanawasa.
Hichilema later emerged as the leading opposition challenger to Edgar Lungu in the 2015 and 2016 presidential elections.
He narrowly lost the January 2015 election, securing 47.16 per cent against Lungu’s 48.84 per cent. In 2016, Lungu was again declared the winner after obtaining 49.21 per cent, while Hichilema received 46.55 per cent.
His breakthrough came in the August 2021 election when he defeated Lungu with approximately 59 per cent of the vote.
Hichilema was sworn in as Zambia’s seventh President on August 24, 2021, succeeding Lungu.
His latest victory gives him another mandate to lead Zambia and advance his administration’s development agenda.
