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 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 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.
Austin Chisangu Liato is a Zambian politician. He served as a member of the National Assembly for Kaoma Central between 2002 and 2011 and as Minister of Labour and Social Security from 2008 until 2011.
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.
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.
Emmanuel Kasonde was a Zambian economist and politician who served as the Finance permanent secretary or Minister of Finance under three successive Zambian presidential administrations,including Kenneth Kaunda,Frederick Chiluba and Levy Mwanawasa.
Guy Lindsay Scott is a Zambian politician,who served as acting President of Zambia from 2014 to 2015,and was the Vice President from 2011 to 2014.
Catherine Namugala a Zambian politician. She was the First Deputy Speaker of the Zambian Parliament until 2021. She was nominated to that position by President Edgar Lungu,on 18 September 2016. She is the former Minister of Tourism,Environment and Natural Resources in the Zambian Cabinet. She also served as the Member of Parliament (MP),representing Mafinga in the Zambian Parliament from 2001 until 2016.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Highvie Hambulo Hamududu is a Zambian politician. He served as Member of the National Assembly for Bweengwa between 2006 and 2016.
Chipepo Peter Friday Malwa is a Zambian politician. He served as Member of the National Assembly for Kapiri Mposhi from 2006 until 2011.
Patricia C. Mwashingwele (1968-2019) was a Zambian politician,Member of Parliament for Katuba Constituency.
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.
Patricia Mulasikwanda is a Zambian politician who served as Minister of Sports,Youth,and Child Development and later Minister of Gender and Women in Development. She served as the Mulobezi member of Parliament from July 2015 to August 2016.
Ronalda Schivonne Nalumango is a South African politician from the Western Cape. She has represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly of South Africa since her election in the May 2024 general election.
