LUSAKA, Zambia — August 24, 2026 — The Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) is formally concluding its deployment in Zambia today following the country’s August 13 general election, which returned President Hakainde Hichilema to office for a second term.
SADC’s official election schedule states that the mission headquarters in Lusaka closes on August 24, with the SADC Secretariat departing Zambia after completing the long-term observation phase. Short-term observers departed earlier, while long-term observers continued monitoring post-election developments.
Hichilema Wins Second Term
The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), the winner on August 18.
Hichilema received 2,965,326 votes, while his main challenger, Brian Mundubile, received 1,856,217 votes. The result gave Hichilema the majority required to win the presidency without a runoff. ZNBC reported that the declaration was based on results from all 226 constituencies, although results from some polling stations in five constituencies were still being finalized because of discrepancies.
The election had more than 8.7 million registered voters, according to Electoral Commission data.
Mundubile subsequently announced plans to challenge the presidential result in court, alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
SADC Gives Preliminary Assessment
SADC deployed 106 personnel from 10 SADC Member States, organized into 17 short-term observer teams covering all 10 provinces. On Election Day, SADC observers visited 277 of Zambia’s 13,529 polling stations.
In its August 15 preliminary statement, SADC reported that the political environment in most areas where observers were deployed was peaceful and that most stakeholders considered the environment an improvement compared with the 2021 elections.
SADC observers found the atmosphere calm and peaceful at 275 of the 277 polling stations they observed. The mission also highlighted the Electoral Commission’s preparations, verification and custody of election materials and the operation of conflict-management committees.
The mission nevertheless identified several areas for further attention, including political-party legislation, the timing of electoral reforms, implementation of the new Mixed Member Proportional Representation system, media freedom, participation of women and persons with disabilities, electoral violence and protection of ballot secrecy.
Vote Counting Faced Disruption
The post-election period included a temporary suspension of counting and announcement of results on August 14. SADC said the interruption created uncertainty and anxiety before the process resumed later that day.
Regional and international observer missions called on candidates, political parties and supporters to remain calm, avoid interference with election officials and use established legal mechanisms to resolve disputes.
A joint African Union–COMESA Election Observation Mission, which deployed 93 short-term observers from 27 African countries, also described voting as generally peaceful and orderly in the overwhelming majority of polling stations it visited while identifying concerns involving late electoral reforms, political violence, media freedom, women’s representation and management of the results process.
SADC Final Report Still to Come
Although the SADC observation mission is closing its headquarters today, its assessment of Zambia’s election is not finished.
Under the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the mission is expected to issue a comprehensive final report following its preliminary findings. SADC says the final report will be issued within 30 days of the August 15 preliminary statement.
That report is expected to provide SADC’s fuller assessment of Zambia’s 2026 electoral process and recommendations concerning areas identified by the regional observers.