Politics News

Zambia's Hichilema wins a second term with about 60% as the opposition alleges fraud

Zambia's electoral commission declared President Hakainde Hichilema re-elected on Tuesday, August 18, after the August 13 vote. Al Jazeera said he won about 61.4% of valid votes against about 38% for Brian Mundubile of the NRPUP, in his first presidential bid. Some 5 million votes were cast. Hichilema, 64, was running for the seventh time and won in 2021.

Africanews reported that five of 226 constituencies were still untallied when the result was announced, and quoted commission chair Mwangala Zaloumis saying they were “not likely to materially influence” the outcome.

“truly humbled by the trust you have placed in our hands.” — Hakainde Hichilema, via Al Jazeera

The count was tense. Tallying was suspended for hours after attacks on election staff and the theft of ballot papers, and authorities arrested about a dozen people, including opposition figures, in a raid involving gunfire. The government linked them to “militia activity”; Mundubile's party denied this.

How each outlet framed it

• Al Jazeera — the result and the fraud claims, plus the EU observers' chief saying “unequal campaign conditions distorted the playing field.”
• Africanews — the vote as a referendum on Hichilema's first term, with the economy back to growth after years of fiscal distress.
• The EastAfrican — the region's view of a win “amid chaotic opposition surge.”

Where the numbers differ: Al Jazeera gave Hichilema about 61.4% of valid votes; Africanews said about 60% of votes cast.