Al Jazeera: Hichilema Re-elected Amid Opposition Concerns Over Vote Conduct

Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected as Zambia's president after defeating opposition challenger Brian Mundubile by more than one million votes, but his victory comes amid opposition concerns over the conduct of the election and questions about the country's political direction. The ECZ declared Hichilema the winner with 2,965,326 votes against Mundubile's 1,856,217, giving him another five-year mandate. Professor Lubinda Haabazoka, director of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Zambia, told Al Jazeera: "In the past five years, President Hichilema managed to start working on the country's macroeconomic fundamentals and made substantial progress in terms of debt restructuring. Recently, we've seen the kwacha stabilise, so I think we are on a growth trajectory." But for many voters, the measure of success will not be investment figures. Elvis Mwape, a taxi driver in Lusaka, said: "We thank God Hakainde Hichilema managed to win. We are looking forward to a win-win situation where, as the economy grows, we are also able to feed our families." Vincent Mwale, an independent MP for Chipangali West, told Al Jazeera: "The UPND has maintained power peacefully. Now they need to get down to work. The results suggest there is a divide somehow. But I have every confidence that President Hichilema can rise to the occasion and bring everybody together." The EU Election Observation Mission raised concerns over campaign-related violence, political intimidation and the media environment, while confirming candidates were able to campaign through rallies and public meetings.