Zambia: Hichilema Wins a Stronger Mandate, but Zambia's Democratic Test Isn't Over
[ISS] Late reforms and weak checks on power expose democratic fault lines and raise the stakes for Hichilema's second term.
Zambia's recent 13 August election saw President Hakainde Hichilema secure a stronger mandate, with 60.5% of the vote against his National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) opponent Brian Mundubile, who took 37.8%. The expanded National Assembly now includes 226 directly elected members and 40 proportional representation seats reserved for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
While Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND) holds 160 seats (62% of the house), the opposition still maintains a substantial bloc. The election was marred by a number of issues, including a drop in voter turnout from 70% in 2021 to 57%, and the 14 August raid and subsequent shooting of former transport minister Mutotwe Kafwaya by Zambian security forces.
This incident, along with the arrest of eleven people, including senior opposition figures, on treason charges, raises concerns over the state of democracy in Zambia. Despite the largely peaceful nature of the vote, observers noted that the election took place on an uneven playing field due to last-minute electoral reforms.
Brief written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
