Lusaka erupted in celebration after Zambia’s electoral commission on Tuesday declared President Hakainde Hichilema the winner ahead of a second five-year term.
Footage shows the result being announced at the commission’s headquarters in the capital, where members of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) celebrated with champagne. Outside, supporters poured onto the streets, honking car horns, chanting, dancing and setting off fireworks.
Hichilema won 2,965,326 votes, according to commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis, which accounted for around 61.8 percent of the poll. Meanwhile, his main challenger, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, secured 38 percent.
“I think this is a sweet victory, and as you know that in this political contestation we’ve had quite a number of players,” said UNPD media director Mark Simuuwe.
Simuuwe also praised the government’s economic record and employment initiatives during Hichilema’s first term, which came on the heels of Zambia’s sovereign debt default in 2020.
“We’ve managed to reduce inflation, of course, to single digits from over 22 percent. We’ve managed to also improve our GDP from negative 2.7 to 5.8. And for us, this is a milestone. We are very excited, and we just call for peace and we call for stability, because a country that has peace will attract foreign direct investment,” he added, noting that the next priority will be steps to reduce the cost of living.
According to media reports, the August 13 election was largely peaceful, although counting was temporarily suspended in some areas following attacks on election officials and the theft of ballot papers. Mundubile called for an investigation into alleged irregularities.
Zambia has built a strong record of competitive elections since returning to multiparty democracy in 1991, with power changing hands between rival parties through the ballot box. Hichilema himself defeated incumbent Edgar Lungu in 2021, marking another peaceful transfer of power.
Source: Viory
