Hakainde Hichilema faces a competitive election with economic conditions and the youth vote emerging as major issues.
Golden Page News | Africa Politics
LUSAKA, Zambia — Zambia is entering the final stage of its presidential election campaign, with voters preparing to decide on Thursday whether President Hakainde Hichilema deserves another term.
Hichilema has been campaigning in Lusaka, including an appearance before students, as political parties make a final effort to mobilise voters. Young people are particularly important in the election: Africanews reports that almost half of registered voters are between 18 and 35 years old.
The election is shaping up as a contest not only over political leadership but also over the country’s economic direction.
Hichilema is defending his government’s economic record while his principal challenger, Brian Mundubile, has gained momentum after receiving support from a coalition of opposition parties. The rising cost of living has become one of the central concerns for voters.
The campaign has also raised questions about political stability. While Zambia has traditionally been regarded as one of the more stable democracies in the region, Africanews reports that the campaign has included isolated incidents of violence.
Why it matters
For Golden Page, the Zambian election is particularly important because it highlights a broader African question:
Can economic reform translate into tangible improvements in everyday life for young Africans?
With a rapidly growing youth population, employment, education, entrepreneurship and the cost of living are increasingly central to political debates across the continent.
Africa’s young population is not simply an electoral demographic. It represents the continent’s workforce, entrepreneurial base and future leadership.
The outcome in Zambia will therefore be watched not only for its political consequences, but also for what it says about the relationship between economic reform, youth expectations and democratic accountability.
