Government and Politics of Zambia

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Legal System

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

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

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 the 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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026); vice president appointed by the president election results: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8%

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly (167 seats; 156 members are directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 8 seats are reserved for specially elected members appointed by the president, and 3 ex-officio members including the Speaker; members serve five-year terms) Elections: last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in August 2026) Election results: percent of vote by party - UPND 53.7%, PF 37.0%, other 9.3%; seats by party - UPND 82, PF 60, UPND Alliance partners 5, independents 7, other parties 2; specially elected members 8; the UPND, led by Hakainde Hichilema, secured a commanding majority, ending the Patriotic Front's decade-long hold on power

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)

Political Parties

Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA, acting president]; National Leadership for Development or NLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline KONIE]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA, president]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]

Head of State

President Hakainde HICHILEMA

Head of Government

President Hakainde HICHILEMA

Cabinet

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

Elections

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

Election Results

In the August 2021 general elections, the United Party for National Development (UPND) secured a decisive victory with approximately 57.9% of the presidential vote, while the incumbent Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu received around 37.3%. In the National Assembly, the UPND and its alliance partners won a commanding majority, taking 82 seats outright, with UPND Alliance partners contributing an additional 5 seats. The Patriotic Front won 60 seats, while independents claimed 7 seats and other parties accounted for the remainder. Eight seats were additionally filled through the specially elected members process. UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in as president on August 24, 2021, ending the Patriotic Front's ten years in power and marking a significant democratic transition in Zambia's political landscape.

Constitution

2-Aug-91

Independence

24 October 1964 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin George BRENNAN embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (1) 250-955 FAX: [260] (1) 252-225

Capital City

Lusaka

Location

15 25 S, 28 17 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

named after a village called Lusaka, located at Manda Hill, near where Zambia's National Assembly building currently stands; the village was named after a headman (chief) LUSAKASA

The Embassy’s main telephone number for calls, including emergency calls after business hours, is 0211-357-000, or, from the United States, 011-260-211-357-000. If you are unable to get through at the above number and you have an after-hours emergency, please call 0966-877-805 or, from the United States, 011-260-966-877-805. Email: ACSLusaka@state.gov Mailing address: Embassy of the United States of America, P.O. Box 31617, Lusaka, Zambia.

Military Branches

Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization)

Service Age and Obligation

national registration required at age 16; 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Zambian citizenship required; grade 12 certification required; mandatory HIV testing on enlistment; mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force)