Johannesburg | Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema has been reelected for a second five-year term, the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced early Tuesday.

He was declared the outright winner of last Thursday's presidential election without the need for a run-off, having secured more 51 per cent of votes.

Hichilema's victory follows a closely-watched election which saw vote counting suspended last Friday, and then restarted hours later under heightened security, after the commission said there had been attacks on some polling station officials and ballot papers had been stolen.

According to the commission, Hichilema won with 2,965,326 votes and his closest competitor was opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who won 1,856,217 votes.

"I therefore declare, Hichilema Hakainde S, president-elect of the Republic of Zambia this 18th day of August, 2026," commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said. Several leading opposition figures had been arrested on the night of the elections, with police accusing them of posing a threat to state security.

Opposition leader Brian Mundubile said his home was raided by police, and alleged an attack on his life. (AP)