MUNDUBILE CLAIMS ELECTION VICTORY AS HICHILEMA SAYS RESULTS ARE ENCOURAGING

MUNDUBILE CLAIMS ELECTION VICTORY AS HICHILEMA SAYS RESULTS ARE ENCOURAGING

National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) President Brian Mundubile has claimed victory in Zambia’s presidential election, while incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema says his camp continues to receive “encouraging results” as the country awaits the official outcome.

In a statement dated August 14, 2026, Mundubile said results compiled by his party through its Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), using information transmitted from polling stations and totalling centres across the country, indicated that he had won the presidential race.

Mundubile expressed concern over what he described as delays in the transparent announcement and verification of presidential results, warning that the situation could create an opportunity for interference or manipulation

He called for the immediate publication of results in accordance with the law and demanded that stakeholders be granted access to relevant electoral records to independently verify the outcome

The NRPUP leader also raised several allegations of electoral irregularities reportedly received by his party from different parts of the country.

Among them are claims that military personnel had taken control of some totalling centres in Mufulira and that Gen 20 forms were allegedly being removed

Mundubile further cited reported incidents involving ballot boxes in Chawama and Matero constituencies, saying any allegations of ballot boxes being stolen, unlawfully removed, interfered with or transported outside established electoral procedures should be investigated immediately and transparently.

He also alleged that returning and presiding officers in North-Western Province had been instructed to stop issuing results and Gen 20 forms, while raising separate concerns from Northern Province over the alleged involvement of a senior government official in the movement of ballot boxes.

Mundubile has since called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to preserve every ballot box, Gen 20 form and other electoral record, maintain the chain of custody and allow accredited political party agents and observers to perform their lawful duties.

He further wants the Commission to publish results polling station by polling station and constituency by constituency to enable every announced figure to be reconciled against original electoral records.

However, President Hichilema, in his latest statement following Thursday’s vote, said his camp was continuing to receive encouraging results as votes came in.

“We continue to receive encouraging results and reports of peace, unity and solidarity across our country as the votes come in. There is much in this moment to be grateful for,” President Hichilema said.

Unlike Mundubile, who has declared that his party’s PVT shows him winning the election, President Hichilema stopped short of claiming victory and instead urged Zambians to wait for the official outcome.

“Let us remain peaceful, patient and patriotic as we await the official outcome from those entrusted with managing the vote,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mundubile has similarly appealed to his party agents, supporters and citizens to remain peaceful and operate within the law, stressing that protecting the vote should not involve violence or confrontation with security personnel.

With both leading contenders expressing confidence in the results reaching their respective camps, attention now turns to the ECZ and the continued verification and announcement of the official presidential results.

Mundubile maintains that any discrepancies between officially announced figures and results recorded at polling stations should be addressed by placing the electoral records before the public for reconciliation.

“The people of Zambia voted. Their decision must be respected,” Mundubile said.

He writes:

Fellow Zambians,

According to the results received and compiled through our Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), based on information transmitted to us from polling stations and totalling centres across the country, our tabulation indicates that we have won this election.

We therefore view the continued delay in the transparent announcement and verification of
the presidential results with grave concern.

The pattern of reports reaching us raises
legitimate fears that this delay could create an opportunity for interference with, or
manipulation of, the results. We call for the immediate publication of results in accordance
with the law and for all stakeholders to be given access to the relevant electoral records so that the will of the Zambian people can be independently verified.

We have received deeply troubling reports from several parts of the country which require urgent explanation by the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the relevant authorities.

In Mufulira, for example, we have received reports that members of the military have taken control of certain totalling centres and that Gen 20 forms are allegedly being removed.

These reports must be addressed immediately. Electoral materials are not the property of any political party, government official or security institution. They are part of the official record of the sovereign decision made by the Zambian people.

Presidential ballots are counted at polling-station level alongside the other elections, and
presidential results are therefore available to party agents through the prescribed electoral
documentation. It should consequently surprise no one that our agents and structures
have been able to obtain results from across the country and establish a clear trend
through our PVT.

We are equally concerned about reported incidents involving ballot boxes in Chawama and Matero constituencies. Any allegation of ballot boxes being unlawfully removed, stolen,
interfered with or transported outside established electoral procedures must be
investigated immediately and transparently.

Those responsible, if the allegations are
established, must be held accountable under the law.

In North-Western Province, we have received reports that returning officers and presiding
officers have been instructed to stop issuing results and Gen 20 forms. If confirmed, such
conduct would be wholly unacceptable. Election results belong to the people. Party agents and other persons entitled by law to receive electoral records must not be denied them.

In Northern Province, we have further received disturbing reports concerning the alleged
involvement of a senior government official in the movement of ballot boxes, including
allegations that officers transporting ballot boxes to a totalling centre have been instructed to pass through the official’s residence before proceeding to the designated centre. These allegations are extremely serious and demand immediate investigation. No ballot box should be diverted from the legally prescribed chain of custody.

I therefore call upon the Electoral Commission of Zambia to act decisively and transparently. Preserve every ballot box. Preserve every Gen 20 form and other electoral record. Protect the chain of custody. Allow accredited political-party agents and observers
to perform their lawful functions. Publish the results polling station by polling station and
constituency by constituency so that every figure announced can be reconciled against the original records.

I equally call upon our men and women in uniform to remember that their loyalty is to the
Constitution and the Republic of Zambia, not to any individual, political party or temporary
holder of public office. The institutions of the State must remain impartial. Their
responsibility at this critical moment is to protect the people, electoral officials and
electoral materials—not to interfere with the democratic process.

To our party agents, monitors, supporters and citizens across Zambia: remain peaceful,
vigilant and within the law. Protecting the vote does not mean engaging in violence or
confronting security personnel. It means documenting results, preserving copies of lawful electoral records, reporting irregularities through the appropriate channels and insisting
peacefully upon transparency.

To those administering this election, I say this: Zambia is bigger than all of us. Governments
come and go, but the Republic remains. No temporary political advantage is worth
damaging the institutions upon which our democracy depends.

If the official results differ from the results recorded at polling stations, the answer is not
secrecy. The answer is transparency. Put the records before the nation and allow every
number to be reconciled.

The people of Zambia voted. Their decision must be respected.

This is a moment for patriotism, restraint and courage. Let every Zambian who has been
entrusted with the people’s vote discharge that responsibility faithfully.

Let us be patriots. Let us protect the vote peacefully and lawfully. Let us defend the
sovereign will of the Zambian people.

One Zambia, One Nation.

BRIAN MUNDUBILE