Zambia Government

What is the capital of Zambia?

Country Name Zambia
Full Country Name Republic of Zambia
Former Name Northern Rhodesia
Etymology- history of name name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe
Government Type presidential republic
Capital Name Lusaka
Capital - geographic coordinate 15 25 S, 28 17 E
Capital Time Difference UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence 24 October 1964 (from the UK)
National Holiday Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution history: several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991

amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly; amended 1996, 2015, 2016; note - in late 2020, an amendment which would have altered the structure of the constitution was defeated in the National Assembly

Zambia Capital City Map

Source: Google Maps

Zambia Government and Politics

Who is the president of Zambia?

Executive Branch: chief of state: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

election results:

2021: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8%

2016: Edgar LUNGU re-elected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%
Citizenship Criteria: citizenship by birth: only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia

citizenship by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required
Legal System: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Legislative Branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (167 seats; 156 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, and up to 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms); 3 ex-officio members elected by National Assembly membership

elections: last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

election results: percent of vote by party - UPND 53.9%, PF 38.1%, PNUP 0.6%, independent 7.4%; seats by party - UPND 82, PF 62, PNUP 1, independent 11; composition - men 136, women 20, percent of women 13.5%; 156 seats filled;
Judicial Branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges); note - the Constitutional Court began operation in June 2016

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)
Regions or States: 10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Political Parties and Leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]

Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]

Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Dr. Nevers MUMBA]

Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP [Highvie HAMUDUDU]

Patriotic Front or PF [Edgar LUNGU]

United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]
International Law Organization Participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International Organization Participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic Representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)

chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 234-4009

FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

email address and website:

info@zambiaembassy.org

https://www.zambiaembassy.org/
Diplomatic Representation from US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)

embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka

mailing address: 2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310

telephone: [260] (0) 211-357-000

FAX: [260] (0) 211-357-224

email address and website:

ACSLusaka@state.gov

https://zm.usembassy.gov/
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