Zambia

National Assembly

Political system: Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Results

About the election: The Patriotic Front (PF), led by President Edgar Lungu, won the majority of the 156 directly elected seats in the enlarged 167-member National Assembly (see note 1). The United Party for National Development (UPND) of Mr. Hakainde Hichelema doubled its share to 58 seats and became the second largest party. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD, which held power for 20 years until 2011, see note 2), took only three seats. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on the economy, youth unemployment, poverty, education and healthcare.

The parliamentary elections were held in parallel with presidential polls. Mr. Lungu was first elected President in January 2015, narrowly defeating Mr. Hichelema, to complete the remaining term of the former president, Michael Sata, who had passed away. In 2016, Mr. Lungu was re-elected in the first round with 50.3% of valid votes, ahead of Mr. Hichelema with 47.6%. On 19 August, Mr. Hichilema filed a court case challenging the presidential election results. He argued the President did not win 50% of the total votes and the voter register was not credible.

In parallel with the elections, a referendum on constitutional amendments to enhance the bill of rights was rejected due to low turnout (see note 3).

Note 1:

In accordance with the 2016 constitutional amendments , the statutory number of members of the National Assembly increased from 158 (150 directly elected and 8 appointed) to 167 (156 directly elected, 8 appointed by the President, plus the Vice-President, the Speaker and the First Deputy Speaker). Although Article 45 (d) provides that the electoral system shall ensure gender equality in the National Assembly, there is no quota system or reserved seats for women.

Note 2:

The MMD won 55 seats and became the second largest party in 2001. It experienced an internal split prior to the 2015 presidential by-election after two MMD members announced their candidacy: MMD leader Nevers Selwila Mumba and former President Rupiah Banda.

Note 3:

For the referendum to be validated, it required 50% of eligible voters to cast their vote (about 3,750,000 people), and 50% of votes cast to be in favour of the proposed changes (around 1,875,000 people). However, the referendum received "yes" votes from only 1,853,559 people.
Number of parties winning seats: 4
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 50.6%
Alternation of power after elections: No
Number of parties in government: 2
Names of parties in government: Patriotic Front (PF), Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Patriotic Front (PF)	80
United Party for National Development (UPND)	58
Independents	14
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD)	3
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD)	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 137
Number of women elected: 30

Notes:
As at 28 September 2016, there were a total of 30 women out of 167 members as follows.

- 26 women directly elected (out of 156 members)

- The Vice President;

- 2 appointed members (out of eight members);

- The First Deputy Speaker.
Percentage of women elected: 18.0%
Women Directly Elected: 26
Women Appointed: 2
Women in other categories: 2
Other notes on the elections: Timing of election: The January 2016 constitutional amendments (Act No. 2 of 2016) stipulate a general election be held "every five years after the last general election, on the second Thursday of August", instead of "the last Wednesday of September". The 2016 elections were thus held in August, instead of September.

Expected date of next elections: 12 August 2021 - The second Thursday of August.
Sources: National Assembly (25.08.2016, 26.08.2016, 06.09.2016, 28.09.2016, 09.03.2017)

International Foundation for Electoral Systems

Electoral Commission of Zambia

Lusaka Times

Zambia Daily Mail

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 137
Total number of women after the election: 30
Percentage of women after the election: 18.0%
First-term parliamentarians: 88
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 52.7%
Date of the first session: 23 Sep 2016

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Patrick Matibini (Male)
Date of birth: 1959
Date of election: 23 Sep 2016

Zambia

National Assembly

Election results

Background

Candidates

Voter turnout

Results

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Members elected, by sex

New legislature

First Speaker of the new legislature

Historical data for IPU membership