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Hichilema Sworn In Again After 60% Vote Win

9/2/2026

23 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Hichilema Secures Second Term

President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday.
Hichilema secured 60% of the vote in the August 13 election.
Rival Brian Mundubile earned 38% of the vote.
Mundubile was later arrested on treason charges.
Hichilema pledged to double the economy by expanding agriculture, mining, energy and tourism.

Summary

Mundubile Charged

Seventeen opposition figures, including Brian Mundubile’s running mate Makei Zulu, were charged with treason.
Human Rights Watch condemned the sudden court closures that blocked legal challenges to the vote.
EU election observers reported delayed tally-sheet entries and weak verification between paper and digital results.
Mundubile and Zulu sought refuge in a United Nations building before police took them into custody.

History

Historical Context

On November 18, 1996 Frederick Chiluba was re-elected President of Zambia, winning about 73% of the vote. The election, overseen by the Commonwealth Observer Mission, recorded 42 contested polling stations in Lusaka and a reported campaign budget of $12 million. This contest set a precedent for later disputes, echoed in the 2024 vote and calls for judicial reform.

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Hichilema Secures Second Term

President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday.
Hichilema secured 60% of the vote in the August 13 election.
Rival Brian Mundubile earned 38% of the vote.
Mundubile was later arrested on treason charges.
Hichilema pledged to double the economy by expanding agriculture, mining, energy and tourism.

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