Zambians vote as Hichilema seeks second term
Zambians voted on Thursday in elections, with President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term after steering the country through debt restructuring and economic recovery.
Zambians voted on Thursday in presidential, parliamentary and local elections, with President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term after steering the country through debt restructuring and economic recovery. Hichilema, 64, is seen as the frontrunner due to his incumbency and a divided opposition, although his main challenger, Brian Mundubile, has attracted large crowds and expressed confidence in victory.
Economic progress is a key issue in the election. Zambia’s economy is projected to grow 4.3% this year, while inflation has fallen to its lowest level in years and foreign investment has recovered. However, many voters remain concerned about the cost of living and poverty, with 60% of the population living in poverty in the latest 2022 survey. Polls were scheduled to close at 6 p.m., with results expected on Monday.
The Nigerian stake is clear. Zambia’s debt restructuring experience offers lessons for Nigeria, which is also grappling with rising debt. Hichilema’s handling of the economy has been praised by international creditors, and the election will be a test of whether voters reward his reforms.
From a Nigerian vantage point, Zambia’s election is a reminder that incumbents often face a difficult choice: pursue reforms that hurt in the short term or pander to voters and risk long-term decline.
This echoes the 2021 Zambian election, which saw Hichilema defeat the incumbent. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a test of democratic accountability.
The winners: the voters, who have a choice; and Zambia, which has demonstrated democratic resilience. The losers: the losing candidates; and the Nigerian government, which must learn from Zambia’s experience.
Bottom Line: Zambians are voting. The economy is the issue. The question is whether Hichilema will win a second term or the voters will punish him for the cost of living.