Counting underway as Zambia awaits results from closely watched election

Counting of ballots is underway across Zambia following Thursday's general election, with the first results emerging from individual polling stations as political parties and voters wait for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to begin announcing consolidated results. Zambia went to the polls to elect the President, Members of Parliament and local government representatives, with more than 8.7 million registered voters expected to participate. According to results currently being reported from a limited number of polling stations, Mundubile is showing early leads in Lusaka, Copperbelt, Eastern, Northern, Muchinga and Luapula provinces. Hichilema, meanwhile, is recording strong preliminary support in his traditional Southern Province stronghold, as well as in Western and North-Western provinces. However, the figures currently emerging should not be interpreted as provincial or national results. They represent only a small number of polling stations whose results have been counted and announced locally. The ECZ has indicated that it expects to conclude and announce the presidential results within the legally prescribed period. The Commission has committed to declaring the presidential results within 72 hours of the close of the last polling station, with August 17, 2026 set as the expected date for the final presidential announcement. The presidential winner must secure more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast. If no candidate crosses that threshold, the Constitution provides for a second round of voting. For the moment, the early figures show a competitive race - with Mundubile making gains across several provinces while Hichilema maintains strong support in his traditional southern and western bases. But with the overwhelming majority of polling-station results still to be consolidated, the race remains open and the early numbers should be treated strictly as preliminary.