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

Zambian Voters Face Choice as Political Legacy of Late Rival Looms Large

Wanderstayfinder.com – As Zambians head to the ballot box this Thursday, the political landscape remains deeply influenced by the memory of Edgar Lungu, the former president whose passing has become entangled with the current administration’s fortunes. Hakainde Hichilema, now 64 years old, is seeking re-election to lead the southern African nation following his decisive victory over Lungu in 2021. What began as a fierce political rivalry between the two men has evolved into something more enduring, extending beyond their personal relationship to encompass their families and devoted supporters.

The animosity between Hichilema and Lungu has been so profound that it has persisted even after Lungu’s death in South Africa during June 2025. Their conflict reached a dramatic climax when the Zambian government sought judicial intervention to prevent Lungu’s family from conducting a private burial without Hichilema’s participation in a state funeral. The legal battle eventually reached South Africa’s supreme court of appeal, which sided with Lungu’s family in June, reversing an earlier high court ruling that had favored the government’s position.

The Opposition Rises with Lungu’s Shadow

In this pivotal election, Hichilema confronts the Tonse Alliance, a coalition of opposition parties spearheaded by Brian Mundubile, a 55-year-old politician who previously served as government chief whip under Lungu’s administration. The connection between the opposition and the late president runs deep. Mundubile’s running mate, Makebi Zulu, served as the official spokesperson for Lungu’s family during the contentious burial dispute. Together, these two candidates have made a campaign promise to repatriate Lungu’s remains to Zambia for a proper, dignified interment.

Christopher Vandome, a senior research fellow at the Chatham House thinktank, emphasized the cultural significance of this issue. “Even Hichilema supporters want to see due respect given to those that have died,” he noted. “When it appears things get messy, it just makes the incumbent look disrespectful.”

Authoritarian Accusations and Historical Parallels

Lungu’s legacy continues to shape the narrative surrounding Hichilema’s leadership. The Tonse Alliance has leveled allegations that the current president has employed authoritarian methods during the election campaign, including raids on opposition offices and the detention of 36 members of Mundubile’s team. Hichilema’s supporters have vehemently rejected these claims, drawing comparisons to how Lungu treated Hichilema during the previous election cycle.

A spokesperson for the ruling United Party for National Development articulated this defense: “Zambians know what repression looks like. 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.” The spokesperson continued, “Today the opposition campaigns freely across all 10 provinces, no media house has been closed and the airwaves are open.”

However, concerns about political fairness extend beyond the opposition. Tamika Halwiindi, a coordinator at Transparency International Zambia, documented instances where police disrupted opposition rallies. “Disruptions from the police citing issues to do with safety have been noted to be more biased against the opposition and independents, as opposed to … the ruling party,” she explained. Activists have similarly reported peaceful demonstrations being halted during Hichilema’s tenure.

Economic Progress Meets Rising Costs

Zambia’s economic trajectory presents a complex picture for voters. The country has stabilized following an economic crisis triggered by debt default in 2020 under Lungu’s administration. Annual inflation has dropped significantly to 6.5%, down from 24.6% in July 2021. The government implemented free primary and secondary education in 2022, while substantial copper deposits have attracted international investment, particularly given copper’s critical role in green technologies.

At the beginning of the month, Hichilema—known by his initials HH and the nickname Bally, a slang term for an elder—announced a 50% increase in accommodation allowances for university students, a gesture aimed at young voters. Yet economic indicators tell a nuanced story. World Bank data shows average annual income increased from $1,127 to $1,318 between 2021 and 2025, but prices nearly doubled over the same timeframe.

Mputa Ngalande of the Fight Inequality Alliance, who was among a group detained for over 12 hours in July 2024 during protests against the state power company amid 22-hour daily blackouts, captured voter sentiment: “What people are asking is: ‘If we are doing well economically, why are we not feeling impact on the ground?'”

Looking Ahead

Vandome assessed that Hichilema’s chances of victory remain strong. “But his … personal lived experience of how complicated Zambian elections can be has given him this insecurity which is actually counting against him … denting his image in a way he doesn’t have to.”

With nearly 8.8 million registered voters set to elect not only the president but also members of parliament and local councillors, the outcome will shape Zambia’s direction for years to come. The interplay between economic progress, political culture, and the enduring influence of Edgar Lungu’s legacy will likely determine whether Hichilema secures a second term or if the opposition can capitalize on lingering concerns about governance and representation.