Hichilema sworn in for second term amid Zambia election dispute

President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second five-year term on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Zambia's National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, following a presidential election that has been widely criticized for serious irregularities and a subsequent crackdown on the opposition. The inauguration ceremony, attended by thousands of supporters and several African heads of state, proceeded while Hichilema's main challenger, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, remained in prison on treason charges he denies. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Hichilema the winner of the August 13 election with approximately 60 percent of the vote. Mundubile, who received about 38 percent, rejected the results, alleging vote-rigging and irregularities. His arrest, along with running mate Makebi Zulu, followed a security raid on his residence the day after polling, during which former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was fatally shot. Authorities stated security forces encountered gunfire and recovered weapons, while the opposition disputed this account.