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Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema greets United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters during their election campaign launch in Lusaka -- Photo: REUTERS/Moses Mwape

LUSAKA — Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has won re-election for a second five-year term after securing 60 percent of valid votes, according to the country’s electoral commission.

His closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, received 38 percent, while the remaining candidates finished well behind the two leading contenders.

Zambia’s electoral system allows a candidate to win outright by securing more than half of the votes, meaning Hichilema avoided a second-round runoff.

The result followed a contested election process, with Mundubile previously claiming victory and alleging irregularities in the vote count. He also questioned discrepancies between polling-station results and figures announced officially, although he did not provide evidence supporting the claims.

Following his victory, Hichilema thanked voters for their confidence and said the election demonstrated Zambia’s commitment to democracy and resolving political differences through the ballot box.

Large crowds of supporters from his United Party for National Development (UPND), dressed in the party’s red colours, took to the streets of Lusaka to celebrate the result.

The electoral commission had briefly halted the counting process following reports of violence against election workers and the theft of marked ballot papers. Counting resumed later the same day.

International and regional observers generally described polling day as peaceful but raised concerns about restrictions on opposition parties, media access and electoral reforms introduced close to the election.

The European Union’s election observation mission said restrictions placed on the opposition during the campaign period may have contributed to an uneven contest.

It remains unclear whether the opposition will formally challenge the final result.