Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has been reelected for a second five-year term, the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced.
He was declared the outright winner of last Thursday's presidential election without the need for a run-off, having secured more than 51 percent of the vote early Tuesday.
According to the commission, Hichilema won with 2,965,326 votes and his closest competitor was opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who won 1,856,217 votes.
"I therefore declare Hichilema Hakainde to be president-elect of the Republic of Zambia this 18th day of August, 2026," commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said.
Hichilema said in a statement that he is humbled by the trust of the people after the victory.
"Thank you, Zambia. We are truly humbled by the trust you have placed in our hands, to hold our nation's highest office and be your servant once more," Hichilema said in a post on Facebook shortly after Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Mwanagala Zaloumis declared him president-elect at the national election centre in the capital Lusaka.
'Confidence and belief'
Hichilema's victory follows a closely watched election which saw the vote counting suspended last Friday and then restarted hours later under heightened security after the commission said there had been attacks against some polling station officials and some ballot papers had been stolen.
The government also confirmed that several leading opposition figures were arrested on the night of the elections, with the police accusing them of posing a threat to state security.
The streets of Lusaka were buzzing well before Hichilema's victory was announced and remained lively long afterwards as people from all walks of life thronged the streets, braving the early morning cold in jubilant celebration.
"Mr President, please continue being the good leader that you are to this country. The people of Zambia have demonstrated once again their confidence and belief in your leadership," Collins Maoma, the national chairperson of Hichilema's sponsoring party, the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), told reporters.
