Zambia President Hichilema seeks second term in upcoming election

Zambia is preparing for a national election as incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, 64, seeks a second term in office. Hichilema, who first won the presidency in 2021 by defeating his long‑time rival Edgar Lungu in a landslide, is campaigning on a platform of economic reform and anti‑corruption measures. The electoral contest, scheduled for later this month, pits the ruling United Party for National Development against a coalition of opposition parties that have pledged to challenge the incumbent’s record on public services and job creation.

The campaign is being shadowed by an ongoing feud between Hichilema’s administration and the family of former President Edgar Lungu, who died in 2025. Lungu’s relatives have accused the current government of politicising the late leader’s legacy and of marginalising his supporters, while Hichilema’s office maintains that the allegations are unfounded and that the election will be conducted in accordance with constitutional provisions. As Zambians head to the polls, observers note that the dispute adds a layer of tension to an otherwise routine democratic transition, with the final outcome set to determine the country’s policy direction for the next five years.