President of Zambia: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Head of state and of government in Zambia}} |
{{Short description|Head of state and of government in Zambia}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}} |
{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} |
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox official post |
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|post = President |
|post = President |
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|body = the<br />Republic of Zambia |
|body = the<br />Republic of Zambia |
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|insignia = Flag of the President of Zambia.svg{{!}}border |
|insignia = Flag of the President of Zambia.svg{{!}}border |
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|insigniasize = 125px |
|insigniasize = 125px |
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|insigniacaption = Presidential |
|insigniacaption = Presidential flag |
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|nativename = |
|nativename = |
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|image = |
|image = File:Hichilema (cropped).jpg |
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|imagesize = |
|imagesize = |
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|incumbent = [[Hakainde Hichilema]] |
|incumbent = [[Hakainde Hichilema]] |
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|incumbentsince = 24 August 2021 |
|incumbentsince = 24 August 2021 |
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|style = |
|style = |
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|residence = State House |
|residence = State House |
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⚫ | |||
Community House (Unofficial) |
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⚫ | |||
|termlength = 5 years, renewable once |
|termlength = 5 years, renewable once |
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|formation = 24 October 1964 |
|formation = 24 October 1964 |
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|status = [[Head of state]]<br>[[Head of government]] |
|status = [[Head of state]]<br>[[Head of government]] |
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|deputy = [[Vice-President of Zambia]] |
|deputy = [[Vice-President of Zambia]] |
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|salary = 63,100 USD annually<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zambialii.org/node/11376|title=Presidential Emoluments (Amendment) Regulations, 2012 | Zambia Legal Information Institute|website=zambialii.org}}</ref> |
|salary = 1,280,299 [[Zambian kwacha]]/63,100 USD annually<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zambialii.org/node/11376|title=Presidential Emoluments (Amendment) Regulations, 2012 | Zambia Legal Information Institute|website=zambialii.org}}</ref> |
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|website = https://www.sh.gov.zm/ |
|website = https://www.sh.gov.zm/ |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Politics of Zambia}} |
{{Politics of Zambia}} |
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The '''president of Zambia''' is the [[head of state]] and |
The '''president of the Republic of Zambia''' is the [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] of [[Zambia]] and is the highest executive authority in the country. The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is responsible for the administration of the government, overseeing the implementation of national policies, and representing Zambia in international affairs. The office was established at Zambia's independence in 1964. The current president is [[Hakainde Hichilema]], who assumed office on August 24, 2021, following the [[2021 Zambian general election|2021 presidential election]] where his party, the [[United Party for National Development]], won a majority. The president's role includes appointing the [[Cabinet of Zambia|Cabinet]], serving as Commander-in-Chief of the [[Zambian Defence Force]], and ensuring the enforcement of laws. |
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The office was first held by [[Kenneth Kaunda]] following [[Zambia Independence Act 1964|independence in 1964]]. Since 1991, when Kaunda left the presidency, the office has been held by six others: [[Frederick Chiluba]], [[Levy Mwanawasa]], [[Rupiah Banda]], [[Michael Sata]], [[Edgar Lungu]] and the current president [[Hakainde Hichilema]]. In addition, acting president [[Guy Scott]] served in an interim capacity after the death of President [[Michael Sata]]. |
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Since 31 August 1991 the president is also the head of government, as the position of [[Prime Minister of Zambia|Prime Minister]] was abolished in the last months of Kaunda's presidential term following negotiations with opposition parties. |
Since 31 August 1991 the president is also the head of government, as the position of [[Prime Minister of Zambia|Prime Minister]] was abolished in the last months of Kaunda's presidential term following negotiations with opposition parties. |
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==Presidential term== |
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The president is elected for a term of five years. Since 1991, the officeholder has been restricted to two consecutive terms. |
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The president is elected for a term of five years. Since 1991, There is a two-term limit for the president in the [[Constitution of Zambia]]. There was an attempt to modify the term limits in 2001 for Chiluba, but it did not materialize.<ref name="termlimits">{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Candace |last2=Siegle |first2=Joseph |title=Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa |url=https://africacenter.org/spotlight/circumvention-of-term-limits-weakens-governance-in-africa/ |website=Africa Center for Strategic Studies}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Northern Rhodesia=== |
===Northern Rhodesia=== |
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When the British colony of [[Northern Rhodesia]] was separated from [[Southern Rhodesia]] and [[British South Africa Company]] rule, the head of state was the [[Monarch of the United Kingdom|British Monarch]] represented in the colony by the [[Governor of Northern Rhodesia]] who exercised executive power as head of state and government. In the [[1964 Northern Rhodesian general election]], the office of [[Prime Minister of Zambia|Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia]] was created to become the head of government ahead of independence. On 19 May 1964, the [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations]] [[Duncan Sandys]] announced that Northern Rhodesia would become independent under a |
When the British colony of [[Northern Rhodesia]] was separated from [[Southern Rhodesia]] and [[British South Africa Company]] rule, the head of state was the [[Monarch of the United Kingdom|British Monarch]] represented in the colony by the [[Governor of Northern Rhodesia]] who exercised executive power as head of state and government. In the [[1964 Northern Rhodesian general election]], the office of [[Prime Minister of Zambia|Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia]] was created to become the head of government ahead of independence. On 19 May 1964, the [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations]] [[Duncan Sandys]] announced that Northern Rhodesia would become independent under a president. The election for the first president would be held by secret ballot amongst the elected members of the Legislative Council.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/180565899/?terms=%22president%20of%20zambia%22&match=1 |title=Free Rhodesia Set |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |via=Newspapers.com |date=1964-05-20 |access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> |
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===Zambia=== |
===Zambia=== |
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Upon independence and the renaming of the country as Zambia, Prime Minister [[Kenneth Kaunda]] was elected as the first |
Upon independence and the renaming of the country as Zambia, Prime Minister [[Kenneth Kaunda]] was elected as the first president. The office of Prime Minister was also abolished making the presidency an executive post.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Spencer |last=Brown |title=The Journal of Developing Areas |volume=2 |publisher=Western Illinois University |year=1967 |page=483 |asin=B000LL6FJ8}}</ref> Initially, the country would be governed as a multi-party democracy. However, following the [[African National Congress]] integrating with [[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP), President Kaunda announced that the [[Constitution of Zambia]] would be changed to turn the country into a [[one-party state]] in 1973 with UNIP as the only legal party with all others banned.<ref name=ndi>{{cite web |url=https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/The_State_of_Political_Parties_in_Zambia_2003_Final_Report.pdf |title=The_State_of_Political_Parties_in_Zambia_2003 |publisher=NDI |access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> Kaunda claimed this was done to discourage tribalism.<ref name=np /> However, the constitution also restored the office of Prime Minister as head of government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/259874587/?terms=Chona+%22prime+minister%22+zambia&match=1|title=10 Ministers join Zambia's "Politburo" |work=The Guardian |via=Newspapers.com |date=1973-08-27 |access-date=2021-07-26|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In the [[1973 Zambian general election]], voters were only able to vote for the UNIP sponsored Kaunda and their only options were to vote if they approved or rejected his candidacy.<ref>{{cite book |first=Dieter |last=Nohlen |year=1999 |title=Elections in Africa: A data handbook |page=953 |isbn=0-19-829645-2}}</ref> |
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Kaunda was re-elected unanimously at each election until 1991. During the 1980s, pressures increased for the multi-party ban to be rescinded. After negotiations with the [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD) in 1990, President Kaunda signed a constitutional amendment legalising political parties other than UNIP. The office of Prime Minister was abolished again and the powers returned to the |
Kaunda was re-elected unanimously at each election until 1991. During the 1980s, pressures increased for the multi-party ban to be rescinded. After negotiations with the [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD) in 1990, President Kaunda signed a constitutional amendment legalising political parties other than UNIP. The office of Prime Minister was abolished again and the powers returned to the president.<ref name=con>{{Cite web |url=https://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Zambia_Constitution_1991_en.pdf |title=Zambia Constitution 1991 |publisher=World Bank |access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref> In the [[1991 Zambian general election]], Kaunda was defeated by the MMD's [[Frederick Chiluba]].<ref name=np>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158836041/?terms=multi-party%20kaunda&match=1 |title=After 27 years, Zambia elects new President |work=The News Journal |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=1991-11-02 |access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> Kaunda agreed to hand over the presidency peacefully, becoming the second African leader to do so after [[Mathieu Kérékou]] of [[Benin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obituary: Zambia's Kenneth Kaunda helped liberate Southern African countries |last=Matiashe |first=Farai Shawn |work=The Africa Report.com |date=2021-06-17 |access-date=2021-07-27 |url= https://www.theafricareport.com/99206/obituary-zambias-kenneth-kaunda-helped-liberate-southern-african-countries/}}</ref> |
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In 1996, President Chiluba allegedly discovered a plot by members of UNIP to carry out a coup d'état and declared a state of emergency to arrest UNIP members. However the [[Supreme Court of Zambia]] declared the emergency declaration was not valid and lifted the state of emergency and released those arrested.<ref>{{cite web | title=ZAMBIA | website=Human Rights Watch | date=1996-11-18 | url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1997/zambia/Zambia-01.htm | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> Later in the year, Chiluba amended the constitution stating that only people who had one parent born in Zambia or Northern Rhodesia could run for president.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/300725559/?terms=zambia%20amendment%20act%20kaunda&match=1 |title=Zambia puts troops on alert following opposition's protest plans |work=The Odessa American |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=1996-11-29 |access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> This amendment was ostensibly targeted at blocking Kaunda from standing for president again as his parents had been born in [[Nyasaland]] (modern day [[Malawi]]).<ref>{{cite web | last=Chawe | first=Michael | title=Zambia's former president Kenneth Kaunda dies aged 97 | website=The East African | date=2021-06-17 | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/zambia-kenneth-kaunda-dies-3441052 | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> |
In 1996, President Chiluba allegedly discovered a plot by members of UNIP to carry out a coup d'état and declared a state of emergency to arrest UNIP members. However the [[Supreme Court of Zambia]] declared the emergency declaration was not valid and lifted the state of emergency and released those arrested.<ref>{{cite web | title=ZAMBIA | website=Human Rights Watch | date=1996-11-18 | url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1997/zambia/Zambia-01.htm | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> Later in the year, Chiluba amended the constitution stating that only people who had one parent born in Zambia or Northern Rhodesia could run for president.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/300725559/?terms=zambia%20amendment%20act%20kaunda&match=1 |title=Zambia puts troops on alert following opposition's protest plans |work=The Odessa American |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=1996-11-29 |access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> This amendment was ostensibly targeted at blocking Kaunda from standing for president again as his parents had been born in [[Nyasaland]] (modern day [[Malawi]]).<ref>{{cite web | last=Chawe | first=Michael | title=Zambia's former president Kenneth Kaunda dies aged 97 | website=The East African | date=2021-06-17 | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/zambia-kenneth-kaunda-dies-3441052 | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> |
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Sata died in office in 2014. Accordingly, his [[Vice-President of Zambia|Vice-President]] [[Guy Scott]] became president in an acting capacity. This made Scott the first white head of state of an African country since [[South Africa]]'s [[F. W. de Klerk]] who left office in 1994 following the end of [[apartheid]].<ref name=gs /><ref>{{cite web | last=Mfula | first=Chris | title=Zambia's Scott becomes Africa's first white leader in 20 years | website=Reuters | date=2014-10-29 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-zambia-sata-idUKKBN0II07420141029 | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> However, because his parents were not born in Zambia, due to the constitution he was only able to act as president for 90 days and could not stand for election.<ref name=gs /> At the [[2015 Zambian presidential election]], the PF's [[Edgar Lungu]] won the presidency and retained it a year later in the 2016 general election under the amended constitution. |
Sata died in office in 2014. Accordingly, his [[Vice-President of Zambia|Vice-President]] [[Guy Scott]] became president in an acting capacity. This made Scott the first white head of state of an African country since [[South Africa]]'s [[F. W. de Klerk]] who left office in 1994 following the end of [[apartheid]].<ref name=gs /><ref>{{cite web | last=Mfula | first=Chris | title=Zambia's Scott becomes Africa's first white leader in 20 years | website=Reuters | date=2014-10-29 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-zambia-sata-idUKKBN0II07420141029 | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> However, because his parents were not born in Zambia, due to the constitution he was only able to act as president for 90 days and could not stand for election.<ref name=gs /> At the [[2015 Zambian presidential election]], the PF's [[Edgar Lungu]] won the presidency and retained it a year later in the 2016 general election under the amended constitution. |
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There are four most notable changes affecting the presidency in this amendment assented to by [[Edgar Lungu]] in January 2016, most of which are found in Part VII(7) of the constitution [https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.pdf]. Firstly, Article 100 Section 1 a) effectively removal the parental clause requiring presidential and vice presidential candidates to have at least one parent born in Zambia and the harmonisation of Presidential and Vice-presidential eligibility in Article 110 Section 2. Secondly, Article 101 Sections 1, 2 3 (a & b) and 8 signalled the shift from a [[First-past-the-post voting|First-Past the Post]] system to a [[Two-round system]] in which over 50% of valid votes cast are required for a president to win. In the event that this does not happen a second round will be held within 37 days between the two leading candidates to which the 50% + 1 rule will determine the winner on that second round. The third notable change is in the introduction of the running mate clause in Article 110 Sections 1, 2 and 3. This saw the President and Vice President directly elected on the same ticket as opposed to before where the President who once elected appoints and dismisses the vice president executively. Lastly, the fourth change was in Article 100 Section 1 j) which requires an aspiring presidential candidates to prove to have at least 100 registered voters in each of the [[Provinces of Zambia|ten provinces]] to |
There are four most notable changes affecting the presidency in this amendment assented to by [[Edgar Lungu]] in January 2016, most of which are found in Part VII(7) of the constitution [https://www.parliament.gov.zm/sites/default/files/documents/amendment_act/Constitution%20of%20Zambia%20%20(Amendment),%202016-Act%20No.%202_0.pdf]. Firstly, Article 100 Section 1 a) effectively removal the parental clause requiring presidential and vice presidential candidates to have at least one parent born in Zambia and the harmonisation of Presidential and Vice-presidential eligibility in Article 110 Section 2. Secondly, Article 101 Sections 1, 2 3 (a & b) and 8 signalled the shift from a [[First-past-the-post voting|First-Past the Post]] system to a [[Two-round system]] in which over 50% of valid votes cast are required for a president to win. In the event that this does not happen a second round will be held within 37 days between the two leading candidates to which the 50% + 1 rule will determine the winner on that second round. The third notable change is in the introduction of the running mate clause in Article 110 Sections 1, 2 and 3. This saw the President and Vice President directly elected on the same ticket as opposed to before where the President who once elected appoints and dismisses the vice president executively. Lastly, the fourth change was in Article 100 Section 1 j) which requires an aspiring presidential candidates to prove to have at least 100 registered voters in each of the [[Provinces of Zambia|ten provinces]] to successfully file for nominations with the Electoral Commission of Zambia.<ref>{{cite web | title=Zambia President Re-Elected in Close Vote | website=Voice of America | date=2016-08-15 | url=https://www.voanews.com/africa/zambia-president-re-elected-close-vote | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> In 2020, Lungu attempted to change the constitution to allow the President to change electoral laws and take control of Zambia's monetary policy. However the controversial Bill 10 failed after the [[Parliament of Zambia]] did not vote in favour with the required 2/3 majority.<ref>{{cite web | last=Asala | first=Kizzi | title=Zambian President's Bid to Amend Constitution Fails | website=Africa News | date=2020-10-30 | url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/10/30/zambia-s-ruling-party-s-controversial-bid-to-pass-bill-10-fails/ | access-date=2021-07-27}}</ref> |
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==List== |
==List of officeholders== |
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===Key=== |
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;Political parties |
;Political parties |
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{{legend|{{party color|United National Independence Party}}|[[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |
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{{legend|{{party color|Movement for Multi-Party Democracy}}|[[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |
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{{legend|{{party color|Patriotic Front (Zambia)}}|[[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] (PF)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |
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{{legend|{{party color|United Party for National Development}}|[[United Party for National Development]] (UPND)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |
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;Status |
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⚫ | |||
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes |
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting president}} |
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===Officeholders=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
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! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} |
! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}} |
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! rowspan="2" style="width:80px;" |Portrait |
! rowspan="2" style="width:80px;" |Portrait |
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! rowspan="2" width="150" |Name<br |
! rowspan="2" width="150" |Name<br>{{small|(Birth–Death)}} |
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! rowspan="2" |Elected |
! rowspan="2" |Elected |
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! colspan="3" |Term of office |
! colspan="3" |Term of office |
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|- |
|- |
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! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;" |1 |
! style="background:{{party color|United National Independence Party}}; color:white;" |1 |
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| [[File:Kenneth David Kaunda.jpg| |
| [[File:Kenneth David Kaunda.jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Kenneth Kaunda]]<br />{{small|(1924–[[ |
| [[Kenneth Kaunda]]<br />{{small|(1924–[[Death and state funeral of Kenneth Kaunda|2021]])}} |
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| [[1968 Zambian general election|1968]]<br>{{ |
| [[1968 Zambian general election|1968]]<br>{{Text|[[1973 Zambian general election|1973]]{{ref label|§|§|§}}}}<br>{{Text|[[1978 Zambian general election|1978]]{{ref label|§|§|§}}}}<br>{{Text|[[1983 Zambian general election|1983]]{{ref label|§|§|§}}}}<br>{{Text|[[1988 Zambian general election|1988]]{{ref label|§|§|§}}}} |
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| 24 October 1964 |
| 24 October 1964 |
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| 2 November 1991 |
| 2 November 1991 |
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|- |
|- |
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! style="background:{{party color|Movement for Multi-Party Democracy}}; color:white;" |2 |
! style="background:{{party color|Movement for Multi-Party Democracy}}; color:white;" |2 |
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| [[File:Frederick Chiluba (cropped).jpg| |
| [[File:Frederick Chiluba (cropped).jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Frederick Chiluba]]<br />{{small|(1943–2011)}} |
| [[Frederick Chiluba]]<br />{{small|(1943–2011)}} |
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| [[1991 Zambian general election|1991]]<br>[[1996 Zambian general election|1996]] |
| [[1991 Zambian general election|1991]]<br>[[1996 Zambian general election|1996]] |
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|- |
|- |
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! style="background:{{party color|Movement for Multi-Party Democracy}}; color:white;" |3 |
! style="background:{{party color|Movement for Multi-Party Democracy}}; color:white;" |3 |
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| [[File:Levy Mwanawasa.jpg| |
| [[File:Levy Mwanawasa.jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Levy Mwanawasa]]<br />{{small|(1948–2008)}} |
| [[Levy Mwanawasa]]<br />{{small|(1948–2008)}} |
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| [[2001 Zambian general election|2001]]<br>[[2006 Zambian general election|2006]] |
| [[2001 Zambian general election|2001]]<br>[[2006 Zambian general election|2006]] |
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|- |
|- |
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! style="background:{{party color|Movement for Multi-Party Democracy}}; color:white;" |4 |
! style="background:{{party color|Movement for Multi-Party Democracy}}; color:white;" |4 |
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| [[File:Rupiah Banda 2010-11-18.jpg| |
| [[File:Rupiah Banda 2010-11-18.jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Rupiah Banda]]<br />{{small|(1937–2022)}} |
| [[Rupiah Banda]]<br />{{small|(1937–2022)}} |
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| [[2008 Zambian presidential election|2008]] |
| [[2008 Zambian presidential election|2008]] |
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|- |
|- |
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! style="background:{{party color|Patriotic Front (Zambia)}}; color:white;" |5 |
! style="background:{{party color|Patriotic Front (Zambia)}}; color:white;" |5 |
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| [[File:Michael Sata 2013 (cropped).jpg| |
| [[File:Michael Sata 2013 (cropped).jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Michael Sata]]<br />{{small|(1937–[[Death and state funeral of Michael Sata|2014]])}} |
| [[Michael Sata]]<br />{{small|(1937–[[Death and state funeral of Michael Sata|2014]])}} |
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| [[2011 Zambian general election|2011]] |
| [[2011 Zambian general election|2011]] |
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| {{Age in years and days|2011|9|23|2014|10|28}} |
| {{Age in years and days|2011|9|23|2014|10|28}} |
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| [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|PF]] |
| [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|PF]] |
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|- |
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|- style="background:#e6e6aa;" |
|- style="background:#e6e6aa;" |
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! style="background:{{party color|Patriotic Front (Zambia)}}; color:white;" | |
! style="background:{{party color|Patriotic Front (Zambia)}}; color:white;" |— |
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| [[File: |
| [[File:Guy Scott.png|100px]] |
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| [[Guy Scott]]<br />{{small|(born 1944)}} |
| [[Guy Scott]]<br />{{small|(born 1944)<br>Acting president}} |
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| — |
| — |
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| 28 October 2014 |
| 28 October 2014 |
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|- |
|- |
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! style="background:{{party color|Patriotic Front (Zambia)}}; color:white;" |6 |
! style="background:{{party color|Patriotic Front (Zambia)}}; color:white;" |6 |
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| [[File:Edgar Lungu, 26 july 2018 (cropped).jpg| |
| [[File:Edgar Lungu, 26 july 2018 (cropped).jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Edgar Lungu]]<br />{{small|(born 1956)}} |
| [[Edgar Lungu]]<br />{{small|(born 1956)}} |
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| [[2015 Zambian presidential election|2015]]<br>[[2016 Zambian general election|2016]] |
| [[2015 Zambian presidential election|2015]]<br>[[2016 Zambian general election|2016]] |
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|- |
|- |
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! style="background:{{party color|United Party for National Development}}; color:white;" |7 |
! style="background:{{party color|United Party for National Development}}; color:white;" |7 |
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| [[File:Hakainde Hichilema 2022 (cropped).jpg| |
| [[File:Hakainde Hichilema 2022 (cropped).jpg|100px]] |
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| [[Hakainde Hichilema]] <br /> {{small|(born 1962)}} |
| [[Hakainde Hichilema]] <br /> {{small|(born 1962)}} |
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| [[2021 Zambian general election|2021]] |
| [[2021 Zambian general election|2021]] |
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|} |
|} |
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==Timeline== |
== Timeline == |
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{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:900 height:auto barincrement:16 |
{{#tag:timeline| |
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ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:16 |
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PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:150 left:20 |
PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:150 left:20 |
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AlignBars = late |
AlignBars = late |
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Colors = |
Colors = |
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id:unip value:rgb(0.07,0.55,0) legend:United_National_Independence_Party |
id:unip value:rgb(0.07,0.55,0) legend:United_National_Independence_Party |
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id:mmd value:rgb(0,0.39,1) legend:Movement_for_Multi-Party_Democracy |
id:mmd value:rgb(0,0.39,1) legend:Movement_for_Multi-Party_Democracy |
||
id:pf value:rgb(0.19,0.39,0.69) legend:Patriotic_Front |
id:pf value:rgb(0.19,0.39,0.69) legend:Patriotic_Front |
||
id:upnd value:rgb(0.82,0.20,0.22) legend:United_Party_for_National_Development |
id:upnd value:rgb(0.82,0.20,0.22) legend:United_Party_for_National_Development |
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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy |
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy |
||
Period = from:01/01/1964 till: |
Period = from:01/01/1964 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+1}} |
||
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal |
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal |
||
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1965 |
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1965 |
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Line 197: | Line 199: | ||
from: 24/10/1964 till: 02/11/1991 color:unip text:"[[Kenneth Kaunda]]" |
from: 24/10/1964 till: 02/11/1991 color:unip text:"[[Kenneth Kaunda]]" |
||
bar:Chiluba |
bar:Chiluba |
||
from: 02/11/1991 till: 02/01/2002 color:mmd text:"[[Frederick Chiluba]]" |
from: 02/11/1991 till: 02/01/2002 color:mmd text:"[[Frederick Chiluba]]" |
||
bar:Mwanawasa |
bar:Mwanawasa |
||
from: 02/01/2002 till: 19/08/2008 color:mmd text:"[[Levy Mwanawasa]]" |
from: 02/01/2002 till: 19/08/2008 color:mmd text:"[[Levy Mwanawasa]]" |
||
bar:Banda |
bar:Banda |
||
from: 19/08/2008 till: 23/09/2011 color:mmd text:"[[Rupiah Banda]]" |
from: 19/08/2008 till: 23/09/2011 color:mmd text:"[[Rupiah Banda]]" |
||
bar:Sata |
bar:Sata |
||
from: 23/09/2011 till: 28/10/2014 color:pf text:"[[Michael Sata]]" |
from: 23/09/2011 till: 28/10/2014 color:pf text:"[[Michael Sata]]" |
||
bar:Scott |
bar:Scott |
||
from: 28/10/2014 till: 25/01/2015 color:pf text:"[[Guy Scott]] (acting)" |
from: 28/10/2014 till: 25/01/2015 color:pf text:"[[Guy Scott]] (acting)" |
||
bar:Lungu |
bar:Lungu |
||
from: 25/01/2015 till: 24/08/2021 color:pf text:"[[Edgar Lungu]]" |
from: 25/01/2015 till: 24/08/2021 color:pf text:"[[Edgar Lungu]]" |
||
bar:Hichilema |
bar:Hichilema |
||
from: 24/08/2021 till: $today color:upnd text:"[[Hakainde Hichilema]]" |
from: 24/08/2021 till: $today color:upnd text:"[[Hakainde Hichilema]]" |
||
}} |
}} |
||
Line 260: | Line 262: | ||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[First Lady of Zambia]] |
* [[First Lady of Zambia]] |
||
*[[Vice-President of Zambia]] |
* [[Vice-President of Zambia]] |
||
*[[Governor of Northern Rhodesia]] |
* [[Governor of Northern Rhodesia]] |
||
*[[Prime Minister of Zambia]] |
* [[Prime Minister of Zambia]] |
||
*[[Lists of office-holders]] |
* [[Lists of office-holders]] |
||
*[[List of current heads of state and government]] |
* [[List of current heads of state and government]] |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Line 271: | Line 273: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Zambia.html World Statesmen – Zambia] |
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Zambia.html World Statesmen – Zambia] |
||
{{Presidents of Zambia}} |
{{Presidents of Zambia}} |
Latest revision as of 19:11, 26 December 2024
President of the Republic of Zambia | |
---|---|
since 24 August 2021 | |
Status | Head of state Head of government |
Residence | State House |
Term length | 5 years, renewable once |
Inaugural holder | Kenneth Kaunda |
Formation | 24 October 1964 |
Deputy | Vice-President of Zambia |
Salary | 1,280,299 Zambian kwacha/63,100 USD annually[1] |
Website | https://www.sh.gov.zm/ |
Zambia portal |
The president of the Republic of Zambia is the head of state and head of government of Zambia and is the highest executive authority in the country. The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is responsible for the administration of the government, overseeing the implementation of national policies, and representing Zambia in international affairs. The office was established at Zambia's independence in 1964. The current president is Hakainde Hichilema, who assumed office on August 24, 2021, following the 2021 presidential election where his party, the United Party for National Development, won a majority. The president's role includes appointing the Cabinet, serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Zambian Defence Force, and ensuring the enforcement of laws.
The office was first held by Kenneth Kaunda following independence in 1964. Since 1991, when Kaunda left the presidency, the office has been held by six others: Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa, Rupiah Banda, Michael Sata, Edgar Lungu and the current president Hakainde Hichilema. In addition, acting president Guy Scott served in an interim capacity after the death of President Michael Sata.
Since 31 August 1991 the president is also the head of government, as the position of Prime Minister was abolished in the last months of Kaunda's presidential term following negotiations with opposition parties.
Presidential term
[edit]The president is elected for a term of five years. Since 1991, There is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Zambia. There was an attempt to modify the term limits in 2001 for Chiluba, but it did not materialize.[2]
History
[edit]Northern Rhodesia
[edit]When the British colony of Northern Rhodesia was separated from Southern Rhodesia and British South Africa Company rule, the head of state was the British Monarch represented in the colony by the Governor of Northern Rhodesia who exercised executive power as head of state and government. In the 1964 Northern Rhodesian general election, the office of Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia was created to become the head of government ahead of independence. On 19 May 1964, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations Duncan Sandys announced that Northern Rhodesia would become independent under a president. The election for the first president would be held by secret ballot amongst the elected members of the Legislative Council.[3]
Zambia
[edit]Upon independence and the renaming of the country as Zambia, Prime Minister Kenneth Kaunda was elected as the first president. The office of Prime Minister was also abolished making the presidency an executive post.[4] Initially, the country would be governed as a multi-party democracy. However, following the African National Congress integrating with United National Independence Party (UNIP), President Kaunda announced that the Constitution of Zambia would be changed to turn the country into a one-party state in 1973 with UNIP as the only legal party with all others banned.[5] Kaunda claimed this was done to discourage tribalism.[6] However, the constitution also restored the office of Prime Minister as head of government.[7] In the 1973 Zambian general election, voters were only able to vote for the UNIP sponsored Kaunda and their only options were to vote if they approved or rejected his candidacy.[8]
Kaunda was re-elected unanimously at each election until 1991. During the 1980s, pressures increased for the multi-party ban to be rescinded. After negotiations with the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in 1990, President Kaunda signed a constitutional amendment legalising political parties other than UNIP. The office of Prime Minister was abolished again and the powers returned to the president.[9] In the 1991 Zambian general election, Kaunda was defeated by the MMD's Frederick Chiluba.[6] Kaunda agreed to hand over the presidency peacefully, becoming the second African leader to do so after Mathieu Kérékou of Benin.[10]
In 1996, President Chiluba allegedly discovered a plot by members of UNIP to carry out a coup d'état and declared a state of emergency to arrest UNIP members. However the Supreme Court of Zambia declared the emergency declaration was not valid and lifted the state of emergency and released those arrested.[11] Later in the year, Chiluba amended the constitution stating that only people who had one parent born in Zambia or Northern Rhodesia could run for president.[12] This amendment was ostensibly targeted at blocking Kaunda from standing for president again as his parents had been born in Nyasaland (modern day Malawi).[13]
Due to a two-term limit in the constitution, Levy Mwanawasa was selected by Chiluba as the MMD's candidate to succeed him.[14] Mwanawasa won the 2001 Zambian general election but his victory was marred by accusations of electoral fraud by opposition parties.[15] Following legal disputes, the Supreme Court eventually ruled in 2005 that though the poll was "flawed", there were not enough errors to justify overturning the result.[16] Mwanawasa won re-election in 2006.[17] He died in 2008 and was replaced by Rupiah Banda.[18] In the 2011 Zambian general election Rupiah was defeated by the Patriotic Front's (PF) Michael Sata.[19]
Sata died in office in 2014. Accordingly, his Vice-President Guy Scott became president in an acting capacity. This made Scott the first white head of state of an African country since South Africa's F. W. de Klerk who left office in 1994 following the end of apartheid.[19][20] However, because his parents were not born in Zambia, due to the constitution he was only able to act as president for 90 days and could not stand for election.[19] At the 2015 Zambian presidential election, the PF's Edgar Lungu won the presidency and retained it a year later in the 2016 general election under the amended constitution.
There are four most notable changes affecting the presidency in this amendment assented to by Edgar Lungu in January 2016, most of which are found in Part VII(7) of the constitution [1]. Firstly, Article 100 Section 1 a) effectively removal the parental clause requiring presidential and vice presidential candidates to have at least one parent born in Zambia and the harmonisation of Presidential and Vice-presidential eligibility in Article 110 Section 2. Secondly, Article 101 Sections 1, 2 3 (a & b) and 8 signalled the shift from a First-Past the Post system to a Two-round system in which over 50% of valid votes cast are required for a president to win. In the event that this does not happen a second round will be held within 37 days between the two leading candidates to which the 50% + 1 rule will determine the winner on that second round. The third notable change is in the introduction of the running mate clause in Article 110 Sections 1, 2 and 3. This saw the President and Vice President directly elected on the same ticket as opposed to before where the President who once elected appoints and dismisses the vice president executively. Lastly, the fourth change was in Article 100 Section 1 j) which requires an aspiring presidential candidates to prove to have at least 100 registered voters in each of the ten provinces to successfully file for nominations with the Electoral Commission of Zambia.[21] In 2020, Lungu attempted to change the constitution to allow the President to change electoral laws and take control of Zambia's monetary policy. However the controversial Bill 10 failed after the Parliament of Zambia did not vote in favour with the required 2/3 majority.[22]
List of officeholders
[edit]- Political parties
- Status
Symbols
§ Elected unopposed
† Died in office
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Political party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
1 | Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021) |
1968 1973[§] 1978[§] 1983[§] 1988[§] |
24 October 1964 | 2 November 1991 | 27 years, 9 days | UNIP | |
2 | Frederick Chiluba (1943–2011) |
1991 1996 |
2 November 1991 | 2 January 2002 | 10 years, 61 days | MMD | |
3 | Levy Mwanawasa (1948–2008) |
2001 2006 |
2 January 2002 | 19 August 2008[†] | 6 years, 230 days | MMD | |
4 | Rupiah Banda (1937–2022) |
2008 | 19 August 2008 | 23 September 2011 | 3 years, 35 days | MMD | |
5 | Michael Sata (1937–2014) |
2011 | 23 September 2011 | 28 October 2014[†] | 3 years, 35 days | PF | |
— | Guy Scott (born 1944) Acting president |
— | 28 October 2014 | 25 January 2015 | 89 days | PF | |
6 | Edgar Lungu (born 1956) |
2015 2016 |
25 January 2015 | 24 August 2021 | 6 years, 211 days | PF | |
7 | Hakainde Hichilema (born 1962) |
2021 | 24 August 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 124 days | UPND |
Timeline
[edit]Rank by time in office
[edit]Rank | President | Time in office | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kenneth Kaunda | 27 years, 9 days | ||
2 | Frederick Chiluba | 10 years, 61 days | ||
3 | Levy Mwanawasa | 6 years, 230 days | ||
4 | Edgar Lungu | 6 years, 211 days | ||
5 | Rupiah Banda | 2 years, 325 days | 3 years, 86 days | |
— | Rupiah Banda | 126 days (Acting) | ||
6 | Michael Sata | 3 years, 35 days | ||
7 | Hakainde Hichilema | 3 years, 124 days | ||
– | Guy Scott | 89 days (Acting) |
See also
[edit]- First Lady of Zambia
- Vice-President of Zambia
- Governor of Northern Rhodesia
- Prime Minister of Zambia
- Lists of office-holders
- List of current heads of state and government
References
[edit]- ^ "Presidential Emoluments (Amendment) Regulations, 2012 | Zambia Legal Information Institute". zambialii.org.
- ^ Cook, Candace; Siegle, Joseph. "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
- ^ "Free Rhodesia Set". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 20 May 1964. Retrieved 27 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Brown, Spencer (1967). The Journal of Developing Areas. Vol. 2. Western Illinois University. p. 483. ASIN B000LL6FJ8.
- ^ "The_State_of_Political_Parties_in_Zambia_2003" (PDF). NDI. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ a b "After 27 years, Zambia elects new President". The News Journal. 2 November 1991. Retrieved 27 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "10 Ministers join Zambia's "Politburo"". The Guardian. 27 August 1973. Retrieved 26 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Nohlen, Dieter (1999). Elections in Africa: A data handbook. p. 953. ISBN 0-19-829645-2.
- ^ "Zambia Constitution 1991" (PDF). World Bank. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Matiashe, Farai Shawn (17 June 2021). "Obituary: Zambia's Kenneth Kaunda helped liberate Southern African countries". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "ZAMBIA". Human Rights Watch. 18 November 1996. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Zambia puts troops on alert following opposition's protest plans". The Odessa American. 29 November 1996. Retrieved 27 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Chawe, Michael (17 June 2021). "Zambia's former president Kenneth Kaunda dies aged 97". The East African. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Zambia vote expected to yield coalition government". The Baltimore Sun. 27 December 2001. Retrieved 27 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Focus on pressure on Mwanawasa to resign". The New Humanitarian. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ Wiafe-Amoako, Francis (2019). Africa 2019-2020. Rowman and Littlefield. p. 338. ISBN 9781475852462.
- ^ "Poll victory for Zambia president". BBC News. 2 October 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Zambia: Luwingu backs Rupiah's candidature in 2011". Lusaka Times. 23 November 2010. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010.
- ^ a b c "Guy Scott's rise to Zambia's presidency". BBC News. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ Mfula, Chris (29 October 2014). "Zambia's Scott becomes Africa's first white leader in 20 years". Reuters. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Zambia President Re-Elected in Close Vote". Voice of America. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ Asala, Kizzi (30 October 2020). "Zambian President's Bid to Amend Constitution Fails". Africa News. Retrieved 27 July 2021.