Zambia elections haunted by ghost of incumbent president's arch-rival

Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after defeating his arch-rival Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021. Zambia's government went to court to try to stop the burial of Lungu by his family, who did not want Hichilema presiding over a state funeral. In this election, Hichilema is facing the Tonse Alliance of opposition parties led by Brian Mundubile, 55, who was a government chief whip under Lungu. "In 2021, the opposition leader [Hichilema] had been arrested 15 times, Prime TV [a private station] and the Post [a newspaper] had been shut down, and on election day the internet was switched off," said a spokesperson for the ruling United Party for National Development. At the start of the month, in a giveaway to young voters, Hichilema, also known by his initials HH and nickname Bally (a slang word for an elder), told a crowd of jubilant university students that he was increasing their accommodation allowance by 50% with immediate effect. However, the cost of living could still count against Hichilema in the elections, in which almost 8.8 million registered voters will also choose MPs and local councillors.