Wanted: Jobs, critical minerals as Zambia's election nears
Key takeaways
- Zambians head to the polls in August with jobs and living costs at the top of their concerns.
- https://p.dw.com/p/5Ftq HZambia's President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking reelection Image: Kathy Short Advertisement Zambia's general election is scheduled for August 13, 2026.
- Political parties are mobilizing nationwide, focusing on unemployment, poverty, electricity shortages, and healthcare.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Zambians head to the polls in August with jobs and living costs at the top of their concerns. The outcome could also impact the ongoing global competition for critical minerals and redefine ties with China and the US.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Ftq HZambia's President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking reelection Image: Kathy Short Advertisement Zambia's general election is scheduled for August 13, 2026. For many Zambians, the main concerns are more jobs, particularly for young people. Inflationremains a major economic challenge, with double-digit price growth continuing to exacerbate the cost of living crisis. But the stakes go beyond Zambia's borders. The election result could impact investment in critical minerals and economic reforms. It could also shape Zambia's relationships with major global powers, such as the US, the EU, and China.
Political parties are mobilizing nationwide, focusing on unemployment, poverty, electricity shortages, and healthcare. "These elections will shape Zambia's future and unity. Peace and stability are essential for economic growth and maintaining investor confidence in key sectors such as mining," Bizeck Jube Phiri, a historian and political analyst at the University of Zambia, told DW.