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UPND presidential candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, has maintained an early lead in the August 2026 general election, polling 438,708 votes against National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP’s), Brian Mundubile, on 351,281 after results from 49 of 226 constituencies were announced.
With 21.7 percent of constituencies declared, Hichilema leads by 87,427 votes.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia released the updated consolidated tally on Saturday evening following the resumption of counting after a nationwide pause on 14th August.
Hichilema’s advantage has been built on dominant performances in Southern and Lusaka provinces, while Mundubile has taken the early upper hand in Luapula, Northern, Muchinga and Eastern provinces.
In Southern Province, the UPND recorded its biggest margins so far with Hichilema polliing 38,739 votes in Chikankata to Mundubile’s 475.
In Sinazongwe, it was Hichilema leading with 29,098 to Mundubile 382 and the two results alone gave the UPND a combined lead of 67,080 votes.
Lusaka Province also favored the UPND in the seat reported so far with Hichilema getting 8,716 votes against Mundubile’s 7,672 in Rufunsa.
On the Copperbelt, Kalulushi went to the UPND with Hichilema gannering 6,994 and Mundubile on 3,618.
In Central Province, the race was tighter with the UPND winning Momboshi with 11,586 votes to 3,627 and Luano with 7,084 to 6,893.
The NRPUP took Chipili with 9,379 votes to 5,411 and the Eastern Province swung in their favour in 3 of 4 seats declared.
Mundubile won Chipata North with 16,345 votes to 7,172, Chasefu North with 9,857 to 6,730, and Kaumbwe with 9,517 to 2,701, however the UPND took Lusangazi Central narrowly with 7,847 to 7,054.
In Muchinga Province, Mundubile won 3 of 4 constituencies with reported votes of 15,606 to 3,986, Mwenzo with 7,604 to 4,947, and Mafinga North with 7,489 to 7,180.
The UPND won Kombwa with 7,199 to 3,494.
Northern Province delivered two wins for the NRPUP with Mundubile polling 20,689 to 8,179 in Kasama Central and in Nsenga Hill, getting 14,163 to 8,341.
The Luapula Province was a clean sweep for the NRPUP across the 5 seats declared.
Results show that for Chifunabuli North, Mundubile got 11,950 votes to Hichilema 4,108, Milenge 9,733 to 4,108, Pambashe 9,155 to 3,467, Chifunabuli South 8,992 to 7,414, and Luapula 5,705 to 4,192.
Of the 49 constituencies declared, the NRPUP won 27 while the UPND won 22.
Despite trailing on seats, Hichilema leads on the national vote due to very large margins in his Southern Province strongholds.
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