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 Zambiaportal |
General elections were held in Zambia on 20 September 2011, [1] electing a President and members of the National Assembly. [2] Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF) won the presidential elections, defeating incumbent Rupiah Banda of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), and was sworn into office on 23 September. The PF emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly, winning 60 of the 148 seats decided on election day.
Incumbent President Rupiah Banda, of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy party, ran for his first full term as president after replacing Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August 2008. [3]
Michael Sata was the candidate of the Patriotic Front and Hakainde Hichilema was the candidate of the United Party for National Development. [4]
With Chinese companies investing US$2 billion by the end of 2010 in the Zambian economy, the status of Chinese business ties with Zambia, Africa's largest copper producer, grew significantly. Early in his campaign, Sata accused the Chinese mining firms of having slave-like labour conditions and ignoring safety standards and local cultural practices. [5] He has been nicknamed "King Cobra" because of his harsh rhetoric, but he later toned down his rhetoric against the mostly Chinese foreign mining firms. [6]
Two days before the results were officially announced, the High Court banned three independent media outlets[ which? ] from publishing speculation on the result after The Post published a headline reading "Sata Heads for Victory." The same day, Banda's office also said that such reports were "rumours" as no final result had been compiled. The delay in announcing the results was the cause of riots in Ndola and Kitwe, where youths fought with riot police while also burning vehicles and markets. Additionally, hackers attacked the Election Commission's website that night and posted false results suggesting Sata won by a landslide. [5] [7]
European Union electoral observers said that the election was "generally well administered," but that there was not equitable access to resources, resulting in the lack of a "level playing field" in the campaign. They said that state-owned media had failed to meet "even their minimal obligations as public service media." [8]
The Zambian-based Foundation for Democratic Process criticised the holding of the election without electoral reform. It blamed the history of electoral violence and the previous failure of the losing parties to accept losing on the lack of reform. [9] While many called for the establishment of a 50% + 1 vote system for electing the president, the government said a new system would not be used for the election. [10]
On 23 September, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala announced Sata the winner of the election with 1,150,045 votes, or 43%, with 95.3% of votes counted. Banda received 961,796 votes, or 36.1%, and other minor parties trailed in the poll. [5] [11] Sata was sworn into office later that day.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Sata | Patriotic Front | 1,170,966 | 42.85 | |
| Rupiah Banda | Movement for Multi-Party Democracy | 987,866 | 36.15 | |
| Hakainde Hichilema | United Party for National Development | 506,763 | 18.54 | |
| Charles Milupi | Alliance for Democracy and Development | 26,270 | 0.96 | |
| Elias Chipimo Jr | National Restoration Party | 10,672 | 0.39 | |
| Tilyenji Kaunda | United National Independence Party | 9,950 | 0.36 | |
| Edith Nawakwi | Forum for Democracy and Development | 6,833 | 0.25 | |
| Ng'andu Peter Magande | National Movement for Progress | 6,344 | 0.23 | |
| Godfrey Miyanda | Heritage Party | 4,730 | 0.17 | |
| Frederick Mutesa | Zambians for Empowerment and Development | 2,268 | 0.08 | |
| Total | 2,732,662 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 2,732,662 | 98.57 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 39,602 | 1.43 | ||
| Total votes | 2,772,264 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,167,154 | 53.65 | ||
| Source: ECZ | ||||
Voting did not take place in two constituencies (Magoye and Nakonde) on polling day due to deaths of candidates, [12] and the elected member for Chongwe (Japhen Mwakalombe of the MMD) resigned before taking his seat. By-elections were held for all three seats on 24 November 2011, with the PF winning two (Chongwe and Nakonde) and the UPND one (Magoye).
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriotic Front | 1,037,108 | 38.42 | 60 | +17 | |
| Movement for Multi-Party Democracy | 902,619 | 33.44 | 55 | −17 | |
| United Party for National Development | 464,527 | 17.21 | 28 | – | |
| Alliance for Democracy and Development | 33,057 | 1.22 | 1 | New | |
| Forum for Democracy and Development | 20,243 | 0.75 | 1 | – | |
| United National Independence Party | 18,446 | 0.68 | 0 | – | |
| National Movement for Progress | 11,828 | 0.44 | 0 | New | |
| National Restoration Party | 4,688 | 0.17 | 0 | New | |
| Zambians for Empowerment and Development | 3,059 | 0.11 | 0 | New | |
| New Generation Party | 657 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | |
| National Revolution Party | 505 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| Heritage Party | 485 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unified Party for Democracy and Development | 308 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| National Party | 193 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | |
| Zambia Direct Democracy Movement | 177 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | |
| Zambian Conservative Party | 168 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| All People's Congress Party | 139 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | |
| Citizens' Democratic Party | 137 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | |
| United Liberal Party | 131 | 0.00 | 0 | –3 | |
| Federal Democratic Party | 27 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | |
| Independents | 201,089 | 7.45 | 3 | 0 | |
| Presidential appointees | 8 | 0 | |||
| Appointed Speaker | 1 | 0 | |||
| Vacant | 2 | – | |||
| Total | 2,699,591 | 100.00 | 159 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 2,699,591 | 98.68 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 36,132 | 1.32 | |||
| Total votes | 2,735,723 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,101,312 | 53.63 | |||
| Source: ECZ (votes), ECZ (seats) | |||||
Sata received a congratulatory telephone call from his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama. [13] While in the 2006 election China had threatened to cut diplomatic relations with Zambia if Sata was elected, due to his criticisms of Chinese mining interests in the country, [14] China issued a statement "welcoming" the result. [13]
Psephologists suggested that the youth vote helped anti-incumbency in a continent that rarely results in an anti-incumbent vote. They also drew parallels with the 2011 ousting of the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt. [5] As a result of Sata's rhetoric, there were also concerns about the future investment climate in the country. [6] Other readings said that after Sata toned down his rhetoric he did not differ much from Banda, but benefited from a crowded ballot of candidates. [15] Psephologists also indicated that Sata did well in the urban areas, while Banda was expected to do well in the rural areas. [8]
The politics of Zambia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president of Zambia is head of state, head of government and leader of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. Formerly Northern Rhodesia, Zambia became a republic immediately upon attaining independence in October 1964.
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third president of Zambia. He served as president from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. Mwanawasa is credited with having initiated a campaign to rid the corruption situation in Zambia during his term. Prior to Mwanawasa's election, he served as the fourth vice-president of Zambia from November 1991 to July 1994, whilst an elected Member of Parliament of Chifubu Constituency.
The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) also known as New Hope MMD is a political party in Zambia. Originally formed to oust the previous government, MMD controlled an absolute majority in parliament between 1991 and 2001, when its past leader, Frederick Chiluba was President of Zambia. Its election into power in 1991 ended the 27-year rule of President Kenneth Kaunda and his United National Independence Party (UNIP). It remained the dominant party within Zambian politics until the general elections of September 2011.
The President of the Republic of Zambia is the head of state and head of government of Zambia and is the highest executive authority in the country. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is responsible for the administration of the government, overseeing the implementation of national policies, and representing Zambia in international affairs. The office was established at Zambia's independence in 1964. The current President is Hakainde Hichilema, who assumed office on August 24, 2021, following the 2021 presidential election where his party, the United Party for National Development, won a majority. The President's role includes appointing the Cabinet, serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Zambian Defence Force, and ensuring the enforcement of laws.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) is a prominent political party in Zambia, founded in December 1998 by Anderson Mazoka, a former executive of the Anglo American Corporation. The party emerged as a significant opposition force following a split from the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). The UPND positions itself as a centrist party with strong ideological commitments to social and economic liberalism, advocating for policies that support free-market principles, human rights, and democratic governance.
Elections in Zambia take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy and a presidential system. The President and National Assembly are simultaneously elected for five-year terms.
The Patriotic Front (PF) is a political party in Zambia, founded in 2001 by Michael Sata. It emerged as a breakaway party from the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) after Sata was not selected as the MMD's presidential candidate for the 2001 elections. The PF is primarily supported by the youth and the urban poor, and it gained significant political influence over time.
Michael Charles Chilufya Sata was a Zambian politician who served as the fifth president of Zambia from 2011 until his death in 2014. A social democrat, he led the Patriotic Front (PF), a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government. He went into opposition in 2001, forming the PF. As an opposition leader, Sata – popularly known as "The King Cobra", emerged as the leading opposition presidential contender and rival to President Levy Mwanawasa in the 2006 presidential election, but was defeated. Following Mwanawasa's death, Sata ran again in 2008, losing to Rupiah Banda.
Rupiah Bwezani Banda was a Zambian politician who served as the fourth president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011, taking over from Levy Mwanawasa. Banda was an active participant in politics from early in the presidency of Kenneth Kaunda, during which time he held several diplomatic posts.
The vice-president of Zambia is the second highest position in the executive branch of the Republic of Zambia. The vice-president was previously appointed by the president before the amendment of the Constitution in 2016. Under the amended Constitution, when the president dies, resigns or is removed from office, the vice-president automatically assumes the presidency, unlike when the Constitution demanded holding of presidential by-election within 90 days. This is so because now every presidential candidate shall pick a vice-presidential running mate and the two will share the vote meaning voting for a president is an automatic vote for the vice-president.
Presidential elections were held in Zambia on 30 October 2008 following the death of the incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa on 19 August 2008, as the elections had to be called within 90 days of his death. It was expected that there would be internal problems within the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) as Mwanawasa had not declared a successor prior to his death, but Acting President Rupiah Banda was selected as the MMD's candidate without apparent problems. Michael Sata stood as the candidate of the Patriotic Front (PF), while Hakainde Hichilema stood as the candidate of the United Party for National Development (UPND). Godfrey Miyanda stood as the candidate of the Heritage Party.
Lameck Kauzi Chibombamilimo was a Zambian politician.
Presidential elections were held in Zambia on 20 January 2015 to elect a president to serve the remainder of the term of President Michael Sata, following his death on 28 October 2014.
Patrick Matibini is a Zambian politician, lawyer and former judge. He has been Speaker of the National Assembly from 6 October 2011 until 3 September 2021.
Irene Chirwa Mambilima was the Chief Justice of Zambia from 2015 until her death in 2021. She also served as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia and presided over the 2006 and 2011 general elections and the January 2015 presidential by-election. She was part of several election observer missions including in Liberia, Kenya, Mozambique, and Seychelles. Her other international assignments included serving as Sessional Judge of the Supreme Court of The Gambia in 2003. Mambilima sat on the International Board of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) as a Director of the Africa Region. She was also a member of several professional associations including the Zambia Association of Women Judges, the Editorial Board Council of Law Reporting, the Child Fund (Zambia), Women in Law Southern Africa, and the Council of the Institution of Advanced Legal Education.
Victoria Kalima Phiri was a Zambian politician who was Minister of Gender and member of the National Assembly for Kasenengwa from 2016 and 2011, respectively, till her death.
Sylvia Masebo is a Zambian entrepreneur, politician, and National Assembly of Zambia representative for Chongwe constituency with the United Party for National Development (UPND). Sylvia Masebo holds a degree in Banking and Finance. She first stood on the ticket of Zambian Republican Party (ZRP) in 2001, then the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in 2003, then the Patriotic Front (PF) in 2011, and then the UPND in 2021.
Paul Chilufya Katema is a Zambian politician. He served as mayor of Ndola and as Member of the National Assembly for Bwana Mkubwa between 2002 and 2006.
Mathew Sampa Mulanda was a Zambian politician. He served as Member of the National Assembly for two different constituencies between 1996 and 2006 and was Deputy Minister for Copperbelt Province between 1997 and 2006.
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