Zambia held general elections on Thursday with President Hakainde Hichilema, 64, pursuing a second term after winning by a substantial margin in 2021 against his longtime rival Edgar Lungu. The political landscape remains shaped by animosity between the two leaders that has persisted even following Lungu’s death in South Africa in June 2025.
A major flashpoint in the campaign emerged from disputes surrounding Lungu’s burial arrangements. The government attempted to prevent his family from conducting the funeral independently, preferring a state-led ceremony. South Africa’s highest court of appeal ultimately sided with the Lungu family in June, overturning an earlier lower court ruling. Hichilema’s opposition challenger, Brian Mundubile, 55, positioned himself as an alternative by pledging to return Lungu’s remains to Zambia for proper funeral rites.
The burial controversy has amplified broader campaign allegations of authoritarian governance. The Tonse Alliance opposition coalition accused Hichilema’s administration of conducting raids on party offices and detaining 36 members of Mundubile’s team during the campaign. Government representatives countered by drawing comparisons to Lungu’s tenure, noting that opposition candidates had faced multiple arrests, media outlets were shuttered, and internet service was disabled during the previous election cycle. Independent monitors from Transparency International Zambia documented police interference at opposition rallies, though interpretations of these incidents varied.
Despite these tensions, Hichilema’s administration has achieved notable economic improvements. The country recovered from a debt default and economic crisis that occurred under Lungu’s leadership, with annual inflation declining to 6.5% from 24.6% in 2021. Free education was implemented at primary and secondary levels in 2022, and copper investments have increased due to global demand for the material in renewable energy applications. At the start of August, Hichilema announced a 50% increase in student accommodation allowances.
However, rising living costs may undermine these achievements. World Bank data showed average annual income increased modestly from $1,127 to $1,318 between 2021 and 2025, while prices nearly doubled over the same period. Approximately 8.8 million registered voters participated in selecting the president, members of parliament, and local officials.
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