IFES
 

Aug. 13, 2026 Confirmed

Zambia
Republic of Zambia
Election for Zambian National Assembly

General Information

At Stake in this Election:  

  • 266 out of a maximum 280 seats in the National Assembly of Zambia 

 

Government Structure: 

  • Assembly: unicameral National Assembly consisting of up to 167 members pre-2026 election, and up to 280 members post-2026 election. Together, the National Assembly of Zambia and the President of Zambia constitute a national Parliament. 

 

Electoral System: 

  • Members of the National Assembly serve a 5-year, renewable terms. 

  • 226 members of the National Assembly are directly elected at a constituency level, using a first past the post voting system.  

  • An additional 40 members are elected via proportional representation, to seats reserved for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. 

  • The President may also appoint up to 11 additional members to the National Assembly. Members of Parliament indirectly elect 1 Speaker and 1 Deputy Speaker, selecting from candidates outside of the Parliament. They also indirectly elect a Second Deputy Speaker from within the Parliament. The (1) Vice President also serves as a member of the National Assembly 

 

The last election for the National Assembly of Zambia was held on August 1, 2021. The United Party for National Development won 82 of 156 directly elected seats, followed by the Patriotic Front party with 60 seats. Voter turnout was 70.6%. 

 

New/Unique in this Election:  

This is the first election in which the number of directly elected, constituency-based members of the National Assembly will be expanded from 156 to 226, and in which 40 additional seats will be allotted to women, youth and persons with disabilities. The 40 reserved seats will be filled from lists submitted by political parties after the election results are announced and will be based on the proportion of the vote in the Presidential election a party’s candidate received. 

 

Information for Voters: 

The Electoral Commission of Zambia is publishing regular updates to its Facebook page.  

 

Key Deadlines:  

  • Christian Democratic Party (CDP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Citizens First Party (CF) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Democratic National Party (DNP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Democratic Union (DU) 

    • Leader: Ackim Antony Njobvu  

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Exodus Party for Peace and Prosperity (EPPP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Forum for Democracy and Development FDD 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Liberal Democrats Party (LDP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Leadership Movement Party (LM) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Movement for Economic Emancipation (MEE) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • New Congress Party (NCP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • New Focus Party (NFP) 

    • Leader: Richwell Siamunene 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • New Nation Party (NNP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Organised People’s Party (OPP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP)  

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Reasoning Assurance Party (RAP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Resolute Party (RP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Socialist Party (SP) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • United Party for National Development (UPND) 

    • Leader: Hakainde Hichilema 

    • Seats won in the last election: 82 out of 156 elected seats 

  • United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP)  

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

  • The Zambia We Want (ZWW) 

    • Seats won in the last election: 0 out of 156 elected seats 

The Patriotic Front took 60 of 156 seats in the last election, coming in second the UPND. There are factions that have separated from the Patriotic Front and will be running under new party names in the 2026 elections. There are also independent candidates running in the elections. 

 

Country Context: 

 

Gender Data: 

  • CEDAW Status: Signed 17 July 1980, Ratified 21 June 1985 date  

  • Gender Quota:  Yes; with 2026 electoral reforms, a minimum of 20 seats are reserved for women.  

  • Female Candidates in this election: Yes 

 

Disability Data: 

  • CRPD Status: Signed 9 May 2008, Ratified, 1 February 2010 

  • Projected population with a disability: 3,506,220 (2025 est.) 

 

IFES Resources: 

 

Election Modified: Aug 04, 2026

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With Participation Rates