Zambia heads toward Aug. 13 election as Hichilema’s economic record faces test

Zambia is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Aug. 13, 2026, with President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term as the opposition challenges his government’s economic record.

Brian Mundubile is among the opposition figures identified as a significant challenger. Cost-of-living pressures are a central campaign issue, putting household finances at the heart of the contest despite improvements in Zambia’s broader economic outlook.

Economic record at the center of the vote

Zambia has undergone debt restructuring, while stronger copper prices and copper-sector revenues have supported the outlook. The International Monetary Fund projects the economy will grow 4.3% in 2026, up from a projected 3.8% in 2025. Those figures are forecasts, not measurements of realized growth, and the political question is whether improved macroeconomic conditions are translating into relief for households.

The election will determine whether Hichilema receives a second mandate to continue his debt-restructuring and economic-recovery policies. No official presidential winner or parliamentary result had been declared as of Aug. 9, 2026. The next step is the scheduled national vote on Aug. 13, after which official results will determine the presidency and the composition of Parliament.