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.
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.
The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) is a political party in Zambia.
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.
Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian businessman,farmer,and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021. After having contested five previous elections in 2006,2008,2011,2015 and 2016,he won the 2021 presidential election with 59.02% of the vote. He has led the United Party for National Development since 2006 following the death of the party founder Anderson Mazoka.
Given Lubinda is a Zambian politician who served in the Cabinet of Zambia as Minister of Justice. He is a former Member of Parliament for the National Assembly of Zambia for Kabwata Constituency in Lusaka. He was first elected as Kabwata MP in 2001 under the UPND ticket and was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2013. Following the retirement of Edgar Lungu from active politics after the 2021 election,Given Lubinda was the acting president of the former ruling party,the Patriotic Front. However,Edgar Lungu returned to active politics in October 2023 and he was handed back the Patriotic Front presidency,with Given Lubinda being appointed as the party's vice-president,a position he held before Lungu's retirement after the 2021 election. Lubinda is of mixed-race parentage. He is known as an outspoken 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.
General elections were held in Zambia on 11 August 2016 to elect the President and National Assembly. A constitutional referendum was held alongside the elections,with proposals to amend the bill of rights and Article 79.
Christine Kaseba is a Zambian physician,surgeon and politician who served as the First Lady of Zambia from September 2011 until her husband's death in October 2014. She is the widow of former President Michael Sata,who died in office on October 28,2014. Kaseba made an unsuccessful bid for President of Zambia in the January 2015 special presidential election to succeed her husband. She was appointed Zambian Ambassador to France on April 16,2018.
Edgar Chagwa Lungu is a Zambian politician who served as the sixth president of Zambia from 26 January 2015 to 24 August 2021. Under President Michael Sata,Lungu served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Defence. Following Sata's death in October 2014,Lungu was adopted as the candidate of the Patriotic Front in a Convention of the Patriotic Front in Kabwe,for the January 2015 presidential by-election,which was to determine who would serve out the remainder of Sata's term. In the election,he narrowly defeated opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema and took office on 25 January 2015.
Miles Bwalya Sampa is a Zambian politician,currently serving as Member of Parliament for Matero Constituency and president of the Patriotic Front. The veteran politician previously served as Mayor of Lusaka,having been elected in August 2018. His election in 2021 would see him return to Parliament representing Matero Constituency,a position he served from 2011 to 2016.
Likando Kalaluka,State Counsel,is a Zambian legal practitioner who served as Attorney General under the government headed by President Edgar Lungu. He is a lawyer and advocate of the High Court for Zambia. Kalaluka is currently serving as the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE) board chairman. As Attorney General,Kalaluka was an assistant cabinet member and assistant legal adviser to the Zambian Government.
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.
Sydney Mushanga is a Zambian politician. He currently serves as Member of the National Assembly for Bwacha.
General elections were held in Zambia on 12 August 2021 to elect the President,National Assembly,mayors,council chairs and councillors. Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development was elected president,defeating incumbent Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front.
Events in the year 2021 in Zambia.
W.K. Mutale Nalumango is a Zambian educator and politician. She currently serves as the 14th Vice President of Zambia,having been appointed to the position in August 2021. Nalumango is only the second woman to hold this position,which is considered one of the most significant political roles in the country.
Sarah Sayifwanda was a Zambian politician who served as Minister of Gender and Development,Minister of Transport and Communication and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. She was also the Zambian representative to the African Union and Pan-African Parliament.
The UPND Alliance is a political coalition in Zambia,formed in 2021 to consolidate opposition parties ahead of the general elections. Led by the United Party for National Development (UPND),the alliance includes key members such as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD). The coalition was created to unify opposition forces against the ruling Patriotic Front (PF),aiming to address Zambia's political and economic challenges.
