The United Party for National Development (UPND), led by Mr. Hakainde Hichelema, won the election, taking 82 (see note 1) of the 156 seats at stake in the 167-member National Assembly (see note 2). President Edgar Lungu’s Patriotic Front (PF) took 60 seats, down from 80 previously. In the presidential elections held in parallel, Mr. Hichelema, who was seeking the presidency for the sixth time, defeated the incumbent President Lungu, who had been in post since 2015. On 24 August, Mr. Hichelema was sworn in as the new President. On 27 August, he appointed a new Cabinet, which included two ministers who had served under the PF-led government. On 10 September, the newly elected National Assembly held its first session and elected Ms. Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti (an appointed member) as its new Speaker. The lawyer from Lusaka thereby became the first woman in Zambia to assume the speakership.

The 2021 elections were held amid an ongoing economic crisis, deepened by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, Zambia defaulted on its international debt. The 2021 elections were held under social distancing measures, and traditional election campaigning was banned.

Note 1:
The figure includes the results of a deferred election in the Kaumbwe parliamentary constituency held on 21 October 2021. A male candidate from UPND won the election. 

Note 2:
In addition to the 156 directly elected members, the National Assembly also comprises eight members appointed by the President of the Republic, as well as three other members: the Vice-President, the Speaker and the First Deputy Speaker. All three posts are occupied by women following the 2021 elections.