Voters queued in reasonable numbers at Kabulonga Secondary School and other Lusaka polling stations on Thursday as Zambia’s 2026 general election got under way, with electoral officials and observers so far reporting a calm, organised process.
Voting opened across Zambia at 06:00 on Thursday as the country held its 2026 general election, and an early picture from Kabulonga Secondary School in Lusaka points to a process that is, so far, running smoothly. A sizeable crowd had gathered at the polling station by mid-morning, with voters moving through an orderly queue as election officials managed the flow of ballots.
The scene at Kabulonga reflects the broader logistics of the day. The Electoral Commission of Zambia deployed roughly 89,000 polling staff to 13,529 polling stations nationwide to manage a register of about 8.8 million voters, more than four million of them aged between 18 and 35. Polls close at 18:00, with the Commission targeting results from Monday.
What Zambians Are Voting For
The ballot covers more than the presidency. Voters are also choosing 277 National Assembly seats, mayors and council chairpersons, and ward councillors, following changes to the electoral system introduced under constitutional amendments passed in 2025. Fourteen presidential candidates are on the ballot, including incumbent Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development, Brian Mundubile of the Tonse Pamodzi alliance, and Makebi Zulu, who leads a breakaway Patriotic Front faction.
The Economic Backdrop
This election is unfolding against a specific economic record. Hichilema’s government completed a debt restructuring in 2024, brought Zambia out of default, and has run a reform programme with the International Monetary Fund. That record sits alongside continued pressure on households from the cost of living, which has featured heavily in campaign messaging from opposition candidates. Copper remains central to the contest too: Zambia is pushing to lift annual production toward 3 million metric tonnes by 2031, a target that has drawn interest from both Chinese and Western investors.
Business and Investor Implications
For businesses and investors, the immediate signal from Kabulonga and similar reports elsewhere is process stability rather than disruption. An orderly election day, with no reports so far of delays or unrest at stations like Kabulonga, supports continuity in the near term for markets watching the kwacha, government securities and the mining sector. Analysts will be watching turnout among the more than four million registered voters aged 18 to 35, since a strong youth turnout could shape both the presidential outcome and the composition of the National Assembly.
What Happens Next
Polling continues until 18:00, after which counting begins at individual stations before results are consolidated and forwarded to the Electoral Commission. The Commission has indicated results are expected from Monday. The Zambian Economist will continue to track developments through the day and into the count.
Key Takeaways
- Voting opened at 06:00 on Thursday 13 August across 13,529 polling stations.
- Kabulonga Secondary School in Lusaka reported a sizeable, orderly crowd by mid-morning.
- Fourteen presidential candidates are contesting, alongside National Assembly, mayoral and council races.
- Results are expected from Monday, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
- The vote is a direct test of Hichilema’s debt restructuring and IMF-backed reform record against continued cost-of-living pressure.
Byline: The Zambian Economist Analyst
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Update: President Hichilema has since cast his own vote at Kabulonga Boys, pictured with his sons Chikonka and Habwela. Read the full report.
Also at Kabulonga Boys today: Tasila Lungu Mwansa ended a 14-month public absence to vote, pictured with Lusaka Central candidate Charity Lumpa.
