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.

Background

Election date(s)
12 Aug 2021
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
14 May 2021
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 Aug 2026
Number of seats at stake
156
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates
810

Voter turnout

Registered voters
7,023,499
Voters
4,959,332
Voter turnout
70.6%

Results

About the election

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.

Number of parties winning seats
3
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
52.6%
Alternation of power after elections
Yes
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
United Party for National Development (UPND)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
United Party for National Development (UPND) 82
Patriotic Front (PF) 60
Party of National Unity & Progress (PNUP) 1
Independents 13
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
136
Number of women elected
20

Notes:

As at 30 September 2021, there were a total of 25 women out of 166 members as follows:

- the Speaker;

- the Vice President and Leader of Government Business in the House;

- the First Deputy Speaker;

- two women appointed by the President (out of eight members);

- 20 women directly elected out of 155 members.

One of the 156 directly elected seats remained vacant until deferred elections were held on 21 October 2021. A male candidate won the seat. The number of women remained unchanged.

Percentage of women elected
12.8%
Women Directly Elected
20
Women Appointed
2
Women in other categories
3
Other notes on the elections

Note on the “Parties or coalitions winning seats”:

A male candidate from the Patriotic Front (PF) won the deferred election held on 21 October 2021, giving the Front 60 seats in all. The section “Parties or coalitions winning seats” reflects the by-election results.

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
142
Total number of women after the election
25
Percentage of women after the election
15.0%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
10 Sep 2021

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti (Female)
Date of birth: 30 Aug 1956
Date of election
03 Sep 2021

Historical data for IPU membership

Export XLS file XLS Export-Grey CSV
Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No