LUSAKA — Zambians are voting in a national election today, with President Hakainde Hichilema, 64, seeking re-election as a long-standing feud with the family of his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, continues to shape the political climate.
Hichilema won his first term in 2021, defeating Lungu in a landslide. Lungu died in June in South Africa, but the dispute between the two political factions did not end with his passing.
The Zambian government moved to prevent Lungu's family from proceeding with burial arrangements, seeking to hold a state funeral. The family opposed the move.
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in June in favor of Lungu's family, overturning an earlier High Court decision that had supported the Zambian government.
Hichilema faces a challenge from the Tonse Alliance, a coalition of opposition parties led by Brian Mundubile, 55, who previously served as government chief whip under Lungu.
Mundubile's running mate is Makebi Zulu, who acted as the Lungu family's spokesperson during the burial controversy. On the campaign trail, Mundubile and Zulu have pledged to facilitate the return of Lungu's body to Zambia for burial.
Christopher Vandome, a senior research fellow at the think tank Chatham House, said death rituals carry deep cultural weight in Zambia and that any perception of disrespect in such matters can damage an incumbent leader's image.
The Tonse Alliance has accused Hichilema's administration of employing authoritarian tactics during the campaign, including raids on opposition offices and the detention of 36 members of Mundubile's team.
The ruling United Party for National Development denied those claims. A party spokesperson said Hichilema himself was arrested 15 times under Lungu's presidency, that private media outlets including Prime TV and The Post were shut down, and that the internet was cut off on election day in 2021. The spokesperson said the current opposition is able to campaign freely across all 10 provinces and that no media houses have been closed.
Transparency International Zambia monitors have documented instances of police interrupting opposition rallies. Tamika Halwiindi, a coordinator at the organization, said police disruptions—citing safety concerns—appeared biased against opposition and independent candidates compared to the ruling party.
Activists have also raised concerns about restrictions on peaceful demonstrations. Mputa Ngalande of the Fight Inequality Alliance said he was among a group detained for more than 12 hours in July 2024 during a protest against the state power company, which coincided with 22-hour daily electricity blackouts.
