Zambia’s presidential election is taking place amid lingering tensions stemming from the rivalry between incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema and his late predecessor Edgar Lungu, who passed away in June 2025. The animosity between the two leaders and their respective supporters has persisted even after Lungu’s death, creating an unusual dynamic as voters prepare to cast their ballots in the southern African nation.
Hichilema, 64, secured a decisive victory over Lungu in 2021 and is now seeking reelection. His main challenger is Brian Mundubile, 55, representing the opposition Tonse Alliance and a former government official under Lungu’s administration. The feud between the two camps has extended beyond politics into deeply personal territory, most notably when Hichilema’s government attempted to prevent Lungu’s family from conducting a private burial, prompting South African courts to intervene on the family’s behalf.
The campaign has been marked by accusations from opposition parties alleging that Hichilema has employed heavy-handed tactics, including raids on opposition offices and detentions of party members. The ruling party contests these claims, pointing to far more severe restrictions imposed on Hichilema during the previous election cycle. Meanwhile, observers have documented instances of police disrupting opposition rallies while permitting government events to proceed unimpeded.
Despite these controversies, Hichilema holds strong electoral prospects. His administration has overseen economic improvements, reducing inflation from 24.6% in 2021 to 6.5% currently, while implementing free primary and secondary education.
Originally reported by Theguardian →
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