Online Reporter
Zimpapers Politics Hub
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has won a second five-year term after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) confirmed his victory in the August 13 presidential election.
ECZ chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis announced the final consolidated results early Tuesday at the National Election Results Centre in Lusaka, with results from all 226 constituencies showing Hichilema polling 2,965,326 votes, or 60.49 percent.
His closest challenger, Brian Mundubile of the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, received 1,856,217 votes, representing 37.87 percent.
The result gives Hichilema a clear majority above the 50 percent threshold required to avoid a run-off, extending his presidency, which began in 2021, into a second term.
The election also marked the first national poll conducted under Zambia’s redrawn constituency map, which expanded the National Assembly to 226 constituencies.
The results showed clear regional and urban-rural voting patterns.
Mr Hichilema recorded strong support in Western and North-Western provinces, while Mundubile performed strongly in parts of Lusaka and the Copperbelt.
Some urban constituencies were closely contested, with Lusaka Central, Chimwemwe and Matero decided by relatively narrow margins. Turnout in several Lusaka constituencies was also significantly lower than in rural areas.
Eleven other presidential candidates contested the election but failed to mount a serious challenge to the leading two candidates.
Mr Harry Kalaba of Citizens First and Mr Fred M’membe of the Socialist Party recorded some of their strongest performances in Copperbelt constituencies.
The presidential result, however, has been accompanied by controversy, with Mr Mundubile disputing the fairness of the count.
Questions have also been raised over an armed raid on his home days before the election, although accounts of the incident remain sharply conflicting.
The ECZ said the counting and announcement of results covering all 226 constituencies proceeded without major disruption.
Parliamentary results for the expanded National Assembly were expected to follow.
