Hichilema Sworn In for Second Term Amid Zambia Political Crisis

​Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema took the oath of office for his second five-year term at a packed National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, steering the copper-rich nation into a new chapter even as a severe political crisis shadowed the celebrations.

​Hichilema secured victory in the August 13 general election with 60% of the vote, crediting his administration with steering the economy away from the brink of collapse after inheriting a default and soaring inflation in 2021. “Having done the heavy lifting in our first term, the next five years is all about growth and prosperity for all our people,” Hichilema declared during his inauguration address.

​The inauguration proceeded under a heavy cloud of controversy. Runner-up Brian Mundubile, who secured 38% of the ballots, rejected the results and alleged widespread vote-tallying irregularities. Efforts by the opposition to mount a legal challenge were abruptly blocked when courts were sealed off ahead of the filing deadline.

​International observers, including delegations from the European Union, noted that while polling day was largely calm, the transparency of the process was undermined by delayed record-keeping and procedural halts.

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​Political tensions boiled over immediately after the election when security forces raided a property linked to Mundubile, resulting in the fatal shooting of a former cabinet minister and the arrest of several opposition figures over alleged plans for an armed insurrection. After spending weeks in hiding, including a stint seeking shelter at a United Nations facility, Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, surrendered to authorities and were formally charged with treason.

​Despite criticism from human rights organizations over shrinking democratic space, regional heads of state—including leaders from Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Tanzania—attended the ceremony. Backed by a stabilizing economy and surging global copper prices, Hichilema’s administration enters its second term promising unity, though deep political polarization remains a defining challenge.