Zambia elections haunted by ghost of incumbent president’s arch-rival

The Guardian · 🇬🇧 public United Kingdom · Aug 13, 2026 · 709 words · By Rachel Savage

Economic Performance Political Rivalry Democratic Backsliding

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What to know about Economic Performance

As Zambians go to the polls on Thursday, the ghost of the current president’s predecessor hangs over the elections.

Claims checked 15

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left14%

Center72%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

As Zambians go to the polls on Thursday, the ghost of the current president’s predecessor hangs over the elections.

Why it matters

Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after defeating his arch-rival Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021.

Common ground

A feud between the two men, their families and supporters has dominated Zambian politics, to the extent that the quarrel has continued even after Lungu died in South Africa in June 2025.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Tu Quoque (You Too): language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Economic Performance story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that almost 8.8 million registered voters will also choose MPs and local councillors?
How does this story connect Economic Performance with Political Rivalry over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/13/zambia-elections-hakainde-hichilem…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Tu Quoque (You Too) 90% confidence

Dismissing criticism by pointing out the accuser does the same thing.

Why it matters: Recognizing tu quoque (you too) helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 15 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 5

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 3

verified Verified By Reference 2

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “almost 8.8 million registered voters will also choose MPs and local councillors.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 2: “Zambia’s economy has stabilised since an economic crisis, which was triggered when it defaulted on its debts in 2020 under Lungu.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the gathered evidence section.

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Claim 3: “The government made primary and secondary education free in 2022.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “Mputa Ngalande of the Fight Inequality Alliance said he was among a group detained for more than 12 hours in July 2024 when they were protesting against the state power company during a period of 22-hour-a-day blackouts.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided web search results for this claim are irrelevant (Moto G review, Global Protest Tracker, Viral Videos) and do not mention Mputa Ngalande or the July 2024 protests.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — From funny clips and emotional stories to innovative tech showcases, the Latest Viral Videos of 2025 are redefining how we communicate, entertain, and connect in the digital age. The Evolution of Vira…
https://sicadel.store/latest-viral-videos-2025/page/6/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A one-stop source for following crucial trends in the most significant antigovernment protests worldwide since 2017.
https://carnegieendowment.org/features/global-protest-tracke…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Moto G Stylus 5G released 6 months ago, but is it worth buying today? In this video I give a full updated review, and I also go over some comparisons with other mid-range phones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aPXo1ZQwaI

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Claim 5: “the quarrel has continued even after Lungu died in South Africa in June 2025.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including Sowetan, Deutsche Welle, and Wikipedia, confirm Edgar Lungu died in South Africa on June 5, 2025.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Brian Muntayalwa Mundubile (born 5 January 1971) is a Zambian politician who served as the Member of the National Assembly for Mporokoso from 2016 to 2026. He is a member of the National Reconciliatio…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Mundubile

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the sixth president of Zambia, died on 5 June 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa, at the age of 68, while undergoing treatment for cardiac complications related to an undisclosed illne…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Edg…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Edgar Chagwa Lungu (11 November 1956 – 5 June 2025) was a Zambian politician who served as the sixth president of Zambia from 26 January 2015 to 24 August 2021. Under President Michael Sata, Lungu ser…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Lungu

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “The average annual income rose from $1,127 to $1,318 between 2021 and 2025, according to World Bank data.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 7: “In June, South Africa’s supreme court of appeal ruled in favour of Lungu’s family, overturning a previous high court decision in favour of the government.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results (CGTN and others) confirm the South African Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Lungu's family, overturning a high court decision regarding the repatriation of his remains.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Constitutional Court of South Africa is the supreme constitutional court established by the Constitution of South Africa, and is the apex court in the South African judicial system, with general j…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Court_of_South_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), formerly known as the Appellate Division, is the second-highest court of appeal in South Africa below the Constitutional Court. The country's apex court from 1910 to…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Appeal_(South…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Supreme Court of South Africa was a superior court of law in South Africa from 1910 to 1997. It was made up of various provincial and local divisions with jurisdiction over specific geographical a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_South_Africa

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 8: “Transparency International Zambia monitors have recorded incidents of police interrupting opposition rallies”

CORROBORATED

Both The Guardian and Time News report that Transparency International Zambia monitors recorded police interrupting opposition rallies.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Transparency International Zambia monitors have recorded incidents of police interrupting opposition rallies, said Tamika Halwiindi, a coordinator at the organisation.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/13/zambia-electio…

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web search NEUTRAL — Independent monitors from Transparency International Zambia observed that police interruptions of rallies tended to be applied unevenly against opposition groups.Hichilema rallies thousands as Zambia …
https://time.news/zambia-votes-president-hichilema-favored-i…

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web search NEUTRAL — Transparency International's 2025 annual report. While corruption spreads, here's proof change is possible.International Anti-Corruption Day highlights rising insecurity and injustice and builds momen…
https://www.transparency.org/en

info

Claim 9: “In 2021, the opposition leader [Hichilema] had been arrested 15 times, Prime TV [a private station] and the Post [a newspaper] had been shut down, and on election day the internet was switched off”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim about Hichilema's 15 arrests, the shutdown of Prime TV and The Post, and the internet blackout is presented in the context of the article, but the provided evidence (OONI, Wikipedia) does not explicitly confirm these specific numbers or events.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In the 2006 election, Hichilema was the candidate of the UDA and ran against incumbent president Levy Mwanawasa of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy and Patriotic Front candidate Michael Sata. He …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakainde_Hichilema

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — As Zambians go to the polls, the ghost of the current president’s predecessor hangs over the elections. Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after …
https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/zambia-elections-haunted-ghos…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — to the internet in Zambia be kept open and secure throughout the election period. Amid fears of an internet shutdown, the Zambian government reportedly dismissed these concerns and promised to maintai…
https://ooni.org/post/2021-zambia-social-media-blocks-amid-e…

verified

Claim 10: “Mundubile’s running mate Makebi Zulu acted as the Lungu family’s spokesperson during the burial row”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia entries exist for Makebi Zulu and the death of Edgar Lungu, none of the provided evidence explicitly states that Makebi Zulu acted as the spokesperson for the Lungu family during the burial row.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Makebi Zulu (born 25 December 1981) is a Zambian lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Malambo Constituency from 2016 to 2021, during which he served as the Provincial Minis…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makebi_Zulu

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — General elections were held in Zambia on 13 August 2026 to elect a president, members of the National Assembly, councillors and council chairs. In the presidential election, incumbent president Hakain…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Zambian_general_election

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Claim 11: “Hichilema is facing the Tonse Alliance of opposition parties led by Brian Mundubile, 55, who was a government chief whip under Lungu.”

CORROBORATED

The Guardian and CGTN both report that Brian Mundubile, 55, leads the Tonse Alliance and was a government chief whip under Lungu. Wikipedia confirms his birth date (Jan 5, 1971), making him 55 in 2026.

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travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Brian Muntayalwa Mundubile (born 5 January 1971) is a Zambian politician who served as the Member of the National Assembly for Mporokoso from 2016 to 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Mundubile

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Edgar Lungu and his wife at a rally in Lusaka in 2015. Photograph: Rogan Ward/Reuters. In this election, Hichilema is facing the Tonse Alliance of opposition parties led by Brian Mundubile, 55, who wa…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/13/zambia-electio…

+ 1 more evidence source

info

Claim 12: “allegations by the Tonse Alliance that Hichilema has deployed authoritarian tactics during the election campaign, including raiding its offices and detaining 36 members of Mundubile’s team.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The existence of the Tonse Alliance is confirmed by Wikipedia, but the specific allegations regarding the raiding of offices and detention of 36 members are not corroborated by any of the other provided evidence sources.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Tonse Alliance is a Zambian alliance of political parties whose goal is to remove the United Party for National Development from government at the 2026 general election.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonse_Alliance

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb tonse, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/tonse_v

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Tonse is a combined village, which includes Tonse West and Tonse East situated about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Udupi on the western coast of South India, between the Arabian Sea and Western Ghats.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonse

schedule

Claim 13: “Hichilema... told a crowd of jubilant university students that he was increasing their accommodation allowance by 50% with immediate effect.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 14: “Annual inflation is now 6.5%, compared with 24.6% in July 2021.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 15: “Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after defeating his arch-rival Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia confirms Hakainde Hichilema was born on June 4, 1962 (making him 64 in 2026) and became president on August 24, 2021, after defeating Edgar Lungu.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hakainde Hichilema (born 4 June 1962), often known by his initials HH and the nickname "Bally", is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia sinc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakainde_Hichilema

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United Party for National Development (UPND) is a political party in Zambia, founded in December 1998 by Anderson Mazoka, a former executive of the Anglo American Corporation. The party emerged as…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Party_for_National_Deve…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.