Zambia election: Hichilema faces 13 challengers

Harry Archie August 10, 2026

An incumbent president, two former ministers and a veteran journalist are among 14 candidates seeking to become Zambia’s next president in Thursday’s election.

However, only two candidates are widely seen as serious contenders for the presidency.

Here are some of the main candidates:

Hakainde Hichilema

The 64-year-old president, popularly known as “HH”, won Zambia’s top job in 2021 on his sixth attempt. He defeated his longtime rival, Edgar Lungu, by a wide margin after years as the country’s main opposition leader.

Hichilema came to power amid public anger over a struggling economy. Zambia was also dealing with a debt crisis after defaulting on its international debt.

He is widely expected to win a second term after overseeing a major debt restructuring and an economic recovery. However, many Zambians say they have yet to feel the benefits, as the high cost of living remains a major concern.

During his campaign, Hichilema adopted the youth slogan “Salt Sana”, meaning “more salt”, calling on voters to “add more flavour” by giving him another five-year term.

A wealthy businessman, Hichilema has tried to present himself as a man who came from humble beginnings. He often describes himself as a former “cattle boy”.

Born into a poor family in southern Zambia, he says he went to school barefoot before receiving a scholarship to study economics and business administration at the University of Zambia. He later earned an MBA from the University of Birmingham in the UK.

He built his wealth through investments in finance, farming, property, healthcare and tourism before becoming leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND) in 2006.

In 2017, Hichilema spent four months in a maximum-security prison after being charged with treason for allegedly refusing to give way to Lungu’s presidential convoy. The charges were later dropped.

Critics, including Human Rights Watch, have accused his government of becoming less tolerant of criticism, pointing to its treatment of opposition politicians, journalists and activists. His government denies the allegations.

Brian Mundubile

Mundubile, a 55-year-old lawyer, has emerged as the main opposition challenger after several opposition parties joined forces under the Tonse Alliance to challenge Hichilema.

He was a close ally of the late Lungu and served as a minister during his administration.

Mundubile, a longtime lawmaker representing Mporokoso in northern Zambia, later became opposition leader in parliament after Lungu’s Patriotic Front (PF) lost power.

He has presented himself as a voice for ordinary Zambians struggling with rising living costs. He accuses Hichilema’s government of focusing too much on economic reforms while failing to provide enough relief to households.

His bid for the presidency came amid divisions within the opposition following Lungu’s death in 2025. Mundubile eventually became the Tonse Alliance candidate after a disputed selection process exposed deep divisions among Lungu’s former allies.

He now faces the challenge of attracting voters who are unhappy with the Lungu era while also separating himself from the former president’s record.

“He has been running a spirited campaign and drawing large crowds,” Joseph Siegle, research director at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, told AFP.

But, he said, the key question is whether Mundubile can turn public dissatisfaction into votes, particularly among young people.

His running mate is Makebi Zulu, 44, a former PF lawmaker who also serves as spokesperson for Lungu’s family.

Harry Kalaba

Kalaba, a former foreign minister under Lungu, is making his second attempt to become president. He is running under the Citizens First party.

The 50-year-old left the PF government in 2019, accusing it of corruption and poor governance. Since then, he has tried to present himself as a fresh voice in the opposition.

Kalaba, who has three children, came third in the 2021 election but received less than one per cent of the vote.