Presidential Election: 30 October 2008

Description of Electoral System:

The President is both head of state and government of Zambia. To be elected President the parents of the candidates must be Zambians by birth. The President is elected through secret ballot by direct universal adult suffrage in plurality elections. The president may serve only two five year terms. The President appoints one Vice-President from members of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly; is composed of 150 members, elected from constituencies in first-past-the-post elections, eight members nominated by the President and a Speaker elected from outside the Assembly by the Assembly. The term of parliament is five years.

Electoral Systems Snapshot

(Courtesy of International IDEA)

*Click on links for definitions

WANT MORE ELECTION RELATED STATS FOR ZAMBIA? Go to "election databases" on the left-hand menu of this page OR comparative data on the right-hand menu and choose your area of interest.

Politics of Zambia

Event

Workshop: SADC-ESN  Capacity Building  workshop

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and EISA will be co-hosting a workshop aimed at building the capacity of the SADC-ESN in Lusaka. SADC-ESN  Capacity Building  workshop

 

Zambia became independent in 1964 after forty years of direct Colonial Office rule, including the last ten years under the failed experiment with the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. At independence Zambia was the third largest copper producer in the world. However, with the collapse of world copper prices in the mid-1970s, the economy was devastated. This, combined with maladministration under the country's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, who ruled from independence until 1991, has meant that Zambia is now one of the poorest countries in the world.

Kaunda was forced out of power by popular pressure and Frederick Chiluba took over after the first democratic election in twenty three years. Whilst Chiluba pushed through a wholesale privatization scheme, corruption and mismanagement continued to bedevil Zambia. Chiluba was frustrated by popular pressure in running for an unconstitutional third term and under intense pressure. Chiluba's attempt to change the constitution, in order to stand for a third presidential term, provoked a political crisis in 2001.

In the elections which took place on the 27th of December 2001 the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate, Levy Mwanawasa, became president with only 30% of the popular vote. The MMD was the single largest party in parliament, but without an overall majority. On coming to power President Mwanawasa launched an anti-corruption campaign which led to the arrest of ex-president Chiluba and a number of other senior figures in politics, business and public service. This precedent – the first time in the region that a former head of state had been pursued in such a manner – has had an impact beyond Zambia (particularly in Malawi, where newly-elected president Mutharika turned on his predecessor in a similar manner). Mwanawasa has also introduced opposition politicians into his cabinet, provoking resentment – and failed legal counter-attacks – from their parties, who described it as 'unconstitutional'. This approach seems to have been abandoned in his second term of office.

Previous election                                              

DID YOU KNOW? In December 2001, for the first time, to cut costs, presidential, National Assemby and local government elections were scheduled for the same day

In the 2006 elections Mwanawasa - who suffered a minor stroke in April - faced a serious challenge from Michael Sata's Patriotic Front (PF). But in the end he got 43% of the popular vote - a significant improvement on his winning share last time round - against Sata's 29%. Hakainde Hichilema with 25% and the remainder was shared by two other candidates (for more detail see: 2006 Presidential results).

The MMD won the National Assembly election with 50% of the seats and were followed by PF with 28.7%, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) with 17% and the remaining 4% was shared by three other parties (for more detail see: 2006 National Assembly results).

Next election

The next Presidential Election are scheduled for 30 October 2008.