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Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has cast his vote in the country’s ongoing elections.
Hichilema, whose five-year term is drawing to a close, is favoured to win a second term in the southern African country.
During his first term, Hichilema’s administration helped propel the copper-producing country of 22 million people into an economic recovery.
He also steered Zambia through debt restructuring and recovery after the country defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020.
Brian Mundubile, a parliamentarian and first-time presidential candidate leading an opposition alliance backed by supporters of Hichilema’s predecessor, the late former President Edgar Lungu, is Hichilema’s main challenger.
Hichilema is asking Zambians for a second term to consolidate economic reforms, create two million jobs and turn Zambia’s mineral wealth into broader prosperity.
The Zambian President and his United Party for National Development (UPND) have centred their re-election pitch on jobs, economic growth, production and infrastructure, while arguing that his first term laid the foundation for stronger growth.
His 2026 manifesto is framed around “production, jobs, exports and prosperity.”
He inherited an economy that had defaulted on its debt in 2020 and has made debt restructuring, lower inflation, investment and economic growth central to his record.
The IMF projects Zambia’s 2026 growth at about 4.3%, while inflation has fallen sharply.
But there is a significant gap between the government’s macroeconomic narrative and how many ordinary Zambians feel.
High food prices, unemployment, living costs and unreliable electricity remain major concerns.
The election is effectively a referendum on whether Hichilema’s economic reforms have translated into better living standards.
#ZambiaDecides2026: Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has voted in the country’s presidential election, joining thousands of citizens casting their ballots in a closely watched contest. pic.twitter.com/ffkVpMrTJs
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) August 13, 2026
