Zambia President Hichilema Set for Second Term Amid Detained Opposition Leader

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:45:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Zambia's president will be sworn in for a second term while his main opponent is detained on treason charges.

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is slated to take the oath on Tuesday after a contested election that saw him win 60% of the vote. Brian Mundubile, the runner‑up who alleged fraud, was arrested on treason charges after a security raid in Lusaka. While observers noted irregularities in tallying, the government argues the results were fair and the opposition plotted an insurrection. Hichilema, who has steered the country out of debt and steered inflation down, seeks to build on his first‑term reforms amid calls for a peaceful transition. African leaders, including those from Botswana and Tanzania, are expected at the ceremony.

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema will be sworn in for a second five‑year term on Tuesday, following a disputed election and the arrest of his main opponent on treason charges.

Hichilema swept to victory on 13 August, securing 60% of the vote according to official results. The runner‑up, Brian Mundubile, who received 38%, alleged the outcome had been tampered with.

Mundubile was unable to challenge the results in court after the courts were sealed off on the final day that a case could be filed.

Election observers noted that while polling day was largely peaceful, questions were raised about the vote‑tallying process. European Union observers reported delays in recording results on tally sheets and weak verification between digital entries and paper records.

The day after the poll, security forces raided a property linked to Mundubile in Lusaka, killing a former cabinet minister and arresting several opposition politicians. The authorities accused the opposition of planning an armed insurrection, an accusation the opposition denies.

Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, had gone into hiding before being detained this week and charged over the weekend.

Hichilema, 64, entered office in 2021 after a landslide victory, at a time when Zambia was dealing with a defaulted international debt and an inflation rate above 24%. He has negotiated debt restructuring and improved foreign creditor relations, though inflation remains high and many citizens struggle with the cost of living.

Hichilema now aims to build on the foundations he has laid in his first term. He will be sworn in alongside his running mate, Mutale Nalumango.