Zambia votes in election testing incumbent Hichilema's economic reforms

Zambians are voting in a presidential election that is seen as a test of the country's democratic stability, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term. More than eight million voters are registered to cast ballots for president and parliament. The election is largely a two-horse race between Hichilema and his main challenger, Brian Mundubile, a former minister from the previous administration. The political climate is significantly shaped by the ongoing dispute over the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, Hichilema's late arch-rival, whose body remains unburied in South Africa. While Hichilema points to economic stabilization, reduced inflation, and investments, many voters express frustration over the high cost of living and unemployment. Mundubile and his supporters have pledged to facilitate Lungu's burial in Zambia.