Xi Congratulates Hichilema on Zambia Re-election
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to Hakainde Hichilema on his re-election as President of Zambia, reaffirming Beijing’s commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two nations. The message, delivered on August 20, came two days after Zambia’s Electoral Commission declared Hichilema the winner with approximately 60 percent of the vote, according to Xinhua News.
A Deepening Partnership
In his message, Xi noted that he and Hichilema have met twice in recent years, jointly steering the development of China-Zambia relations. “The political mutual trust between the two countries has continued to deepen, practical cooperation has been fruitful, and China and Zambia have closely coordinated and cooperated in multilateral affairs,” Xi said, as reported by China Daily.
The Chinese leader emphasized the importance of implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), pledging to work with Hichilema to “carry forward traditional friendship, cement mutual support, and continuously raise the level of mutually beneficial cooperation.”
The congratulatory message underscores the strategic significance of Zambia to China’s broader engagement with Africa. The two countries established diplomatic relations on October 29, 1964, making Zambia the first country in southern Africa to establish ties with Beijing. Their relationship, often described as an “all-weather friendship,” has been anchored by landmark projects including the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA), a 1,886-kilometer line built with Chinese assistance in the 1960s and 1970s, as detailed in China Daily’s retrospective on six decades of bilateral ties.
In September 2024, during Hichilema’s state visit to China, the two leaders elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, signaling a new phase in their engagement.
Election Context
Hichilema, 64, secured his second five-year term in the August 13 election, winning approximately 2,965,326 votes out of about 5 million cast. His closest challenger, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), received approximately 38 percent of the vote, according to Al Jazeera.
“I therefore declare Hichilema Hakainde S to be president-elect of the Republic of Zambia this 18th day of August, 2026,” Electoral Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis announced.
Hichilema, who was first elected in 2021 after five previously unsuccessful runs for the presidency, described his victory as a demonstration of Zambia’s democratic maturity. “We are truly humbled by the trust you have placed in our hands,” he said in a statement, adding that the election showed Zambia is a “democratic nation that settles our differences at the ballot box.”
The election was not without controversy. Mundubile has said he will challenge the results in court, alleging voting irregularities. The opposition leader also went into hiding following a security raid on his home on the night after the election, which resulted in 11 arrests and the death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, as BBC News reported. Authorities said the raid targeted alleged militia activity, while Mundubile dismissed the accusations as “total fabrications.”
The BBC also confirmed that police said Kafwaya, 49, was fatally wounded during an exchange of fire in the security operation. International observers from the EU and SADC described election day as largely peaceful but raised concerns about late electoral reforms, media freedom, and uneven campaign conditions.
Strategic Implications
The timing and content of Xi’s congratulatory message carry significant diplomatic weight. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer, making it strategically important in the global competition for critical minerals. Bilateral trade between China and Zambia reached approximately $5.31 billion in 2023, with China primarily importing copper while exporting machinery, electrical products, and steel.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry had already extended congratulations on August 18 through spokesperson Lin Jian, who stated China’s willingness to work with Zambia’s new government to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Xi’s personal message, arriving two days later, reinforces Beijing’s commitment to continuity in the relationship under Hichilema’s continued leadership.
What to Watch
As Hichilema begins his second term, several factors will shape the trajectory of China-Zambia relations. The implementation of FOCAC Beijing Summit outcomes will be a key priority, as will the planned renovation of the TAZARA railway. Meanwhile, Mundubile’s legal challenge to the election results could prolong political uncertainty in Zambia, though the country’s tradition of peaceful electoral transitions since 1991 provides a measure of stability.
For Beijing, maintaining strong ties with Lusaka remains central to its broader strategy across the African continent, where China has positioned itself as a key development partner through infrastructure investment, trade, and diplomatic engagement.