Zambians go to the polls on Thursday in a high-stakes presidential election that tests whether incumbent Hakainde Hichilema’s macroeconomic recovery can overcome widespread public frustration over rising living costs.
Hichilema, the candidate for the United Party for National Development (UPND), faces Brian Mundubile, a former ally of late president Edgar Lungu. Mundubile has emerged as the principal challenger after securing the backing of a coalition of rival opposition parties.
About 8.7 million registered voters—a majority of whom are women—will decide whether to grant Hichilema a second term to consolidate economic reforms or back the opposition’s push for a political turnaround.
Hichilema assumed office following his 2021 election victory, taking over an economy in sovereign default caused by years of heavy borrowing under the previous administration. Since taking power, his government has secured a landmark debt restructuring deal, reinstated an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, and returned the economy to growth, earning praise from international creditors.
However, domestic dissatisfaction remains high as ordinary citizens grapple with persistent poverty, high food prices, and unemployment. World Bank data indicates that over 70 percent of Zambia’s population survives on less than $3 a day.
Zambia remains Africa’s second-largest copper producer, with the government targeting a threefold increase in output by 2031, supported by significant investment from Chinese mining companies.
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