LUSAKA, Zambia – The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has formally confirmed 14 validly nominated candidates for the country’s August 13 presidential election.
Incumbent president Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term as leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND) alongside running mate Mutale Nalumango.
In a June 29 public notice, the ECZ said the candidates were cleared following nominations lodged between May 18 and 2
Polling will run from 6AM to 6PM on election day.
Hichilema, who won the presidency in 2021, faces a fractured opposition field that includes Tonse Alliance candidate Brian Mundubile (National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity), Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe, Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba, and Kelvin Fube Bwalya — known as KBF — of Zambia Must Prosper.
The other candidates are Given Chansa (Movement for Economic Emancipation), Xavier Chungu (Liberal Democratic Party), Howard Kunda (Zambia Wake Up Party), Brian Mushimba (Organised People’s Party), Ackim Njobvu (Democratic Union), Daniel Pule (Christian Democratic Party), Richwell Siamunene (National Farmers Party), Richard Silumbe (Leadership Movement) and independent candidate Given Katuta.
Analysts have pointed to the splintering of the opposition vote across multiple candidates as a key factor favouring Hichilema’s chances of a first-round win, with several recent opinion polls putting his support above 50 percent.
The election will also be the first conducted under Zambia’s redrawn constituency map, which added 70 new seats, a process that has drawn gerrymandering accusations from opposition figures who say it favours UPND strongholds.
