Zambia's 2026 election: Key issues to watch

Zambia 's general election on Thursday will be fought on economic recovery, governance reforms and a sweeping change to the country's parliamentary map.

Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema , leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), is seeking a second term against 14 opponents.

His principal challenger is Brian Mundubile, a former ally of the late President Edgar Lungu , who has surged to the front of a fragmented opposition after being backed by a coalition of rival parties.

The Electoral Commission announced in April that 70 new constituencies would be added, raising the number of parliamentary seats from 156 to 226, creating smaller, more local voting districts. Up to 8.7 million voters are expected to take part in the elections, a majority of whom are women.

Economic issues dominate voters' concerns. Official data shows that over 70% of the population lives on less than three dollars a day , and many households survive on salaries between $60 and $100 (€52 and €87) a month while grocery prices keep rising.

"I would like the new government to increase our salaries. [Maize meal] is very expensive. Everything is expensive," said security guard Lucky Mutelo.

Rebecca, a market shopper, echoes the sentiment, noting that "the cost of living is still too high."

The government has been making significant gains on these issues.