Hakainde Hichilema has once again secured his second term in presidency after winning office in the presidential election held in Zambia. Hichilema aims to build his leadership on economic reforms, which he introduced in his first five years of power. While the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced the official results, they demonstrated how 60% of the votes were obtained by Hichilema alone, who defeated Brian Mundubule, who had owned 38%.
Hichilema initially took office in the year 2021, right after he defeated Edgar Lungu, who was the president at the time. Hichilema then came into the election, which was held very recently, holding a record that was shaped by Zambia’s difficult economic circumstances. His government has worked to ensure that Zambia’s debts are restructured and that its ties are rebuilt with international lenders after the country failed to repay its debts in 2020.
The president has also promoted investment in Zambia’s mining sector, particularly copper. Minerals are central to the country’s economy and have become increasingly important globally because of their role in clean-energy technologies.
However, Hichilema’s second victory comes at a time where continued pressure is received from voters who are currently facing high living costs and poverty. While the government points to improvements in the wider economy, critics argue that these gains have not yet been enough or sufficient to create a significantly improved state that supports the daily lives of ordinary Zambians.
The election also faced a few challenges. While vote counting was suspended temporarily after reports of violence against election officials and the theft of ballot papers, a few of the figures on the opposing side were later arrested, while Mundubile’s supporters raised concerns about the conduct of the election. However, the government has rejected all allegations of political repression.
With another five-year term ahead, Hichilema has promised to focus on expanding Zambia’s economy and creating more jobs. His ability to turn economic recovery into tangible improvements for households will likely be one of the biggest tests of his second presidency.
