Zambians turned out in large numbers on Thursday for a closely watched general election, with President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term against a crowded opposition field led by Brian Mundubile.
Voting continued across the country into the afternoon after polling stations opened at 6 a.m., with long queues reported in Lusaka and several other parts of Zambia. The Electoral Commission of Zambia has registered more than 8.7 million voters for the election.
The vote has so far remained broadly peaceful, although election observers and voters reported delays and confusion at some polling stations over voter lists, directions and crowd management. Additional police officers were deployed ahead of the election following a campaign marked by heightened political tensions.
Polls are scheduled to close at 6 p.m. local time, after which counting will begin at polling stations across the country. No official national turnout figure or verified presidential results had been released by late Thursday afternoon.
Hichilema, who defeated former President Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021, is running on his government’s record of restructuring Zambia’s foreign debt, attracting mining investment and stabilising an economy battered by the country’s 2020 sovereign default.
But his administration faces frustration over the cost of living, unemployment and unreliable electricity supplies, with many voters saying the economic recovery promoted by the government has yet to translate into significant improvements in household finances.
Mundubile, a former minister and parliamentary opposition leader, has emerged as Hichilema’s strongest challenger and has campaigned on promises to lower living costs, deliver a greater share of Zambia’s mineral wealth to citizens and reverse what the opposition describes as a deterioration in democratic freedoms.
The election campaign was also overshadowed by allegations from opposition groups and rights organisations that state institutions had been used against government critics. Hichilema’s administration has rejected accusations that it has become increasingly authoritarian.
Fourteen candidates are contesting the presidency, including independent candidate Given Katuta, the only woman in the presidential race.
Zambians are simultaneously electing members of parliament, mayors, council chairpersons and local councillors.
A presidential candidate must secure more than 50% of valid votes to win outright. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the two leading contenders will proceed to a runoff.
The Electoral Commission has said the final presidential result is expected to be declared on August 17.
The election is being closely watched beyond Zambia because of the country’s growing importance as a major copper producer. China is already a dominant investor in its mining industry, while the United States has been seeking greater access to African supplies of copper and other critical minerals.