Constitution of Zambia 1991, as amended to 2016
Head of State
  • English
    1. There shall be a President of the Republic who shall be the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.
    2. The executive authority of the State vests in the President and, subject to this Constitution, shall be exercised directly by the President or through public officers or other persons appointed by the President.
    3. The President shall, in exercise of the executive authority of the State—
    a. respect, uphold and safeguard this Constitution;
    ...
    e. promote and protect the rights and freedoms of a person; and
    f. uphold the rule of law. (Art. 91)
Head of State
  • English
    1. The electoral systems provided for in Article 47 for the election of President, Member of Parliament or councillor shall ensure—
    a. that citizens are free to exercise their political rights;
    b. universal adult suffrage based on the equality of a vote;
    c. fair representation of the various interest groups in society;
    ... (Art. 45)
Head of State
  • English
    1. A person qualifies to be nominated as a candidate for election as President if that person—
    a. is a citizen by birth or descent;
    b. has been ordinarily resident in Zambia;
    c. is at least thirty-five years old;
    d. is a registered voter;
    e. has obtained, as a minimum academic qualification, a grade twelve certificate or its equivalent;
    f. is fluent in the official language;
    g. has paid that person’s taxes or has made arrangements, satisfactory to the appropriate tax authority, for the payment of the taxes;
    h. declares that person’s assets and liabilities, as prescribed;
    i. pays the prescribed election fee on, or before, the date fixed for the delivery of nomination papers; and
    j. is supported by at least one hundred registered voters from each Province.
    ... (Art. 100)
Head of State
  • English
    1. A President shall be elected by registered voters in accordance with Article 47 (1) and this Article.
    2. The Returning Officer shall declare the presidential candidate who receives more than fifty percent of the valid votes cast during the election as President-elect.
    3. If at the initial ballot a presidential candidate does not receive more than fifty percent of the valid votes cast, a second ballot shall be held within thirty-seven days of the initial ballot, where the only candidates shall be the presidential candidates who obtained—
    a. the highest and second highest number of valid votes cast in the initial ballot; or
    b. an equal number of the valid votes cast in the initial ballot, being the highest votes amongst the presidential candidates that stood for election to the office of President.
    ... (Art. 101)
Vice-President
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    1. The President shall appoint the Vice-President to be the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly.
    … (Art. 74)
Vice-President
  • English
    1. A person qualifies to be nominated as a candidate for election as President if that person—
    a. is a citizen by birth or descent;
    b. has been ordinarily resident in Zambia;
    c. is at least thirty-five years old;
    d. is a registered voter;
    e. has obtained, as a minimum academic qualification, a grade twelve certificate or its equivalent;
    f. is fluent in the official language;
    g. has paid that person’s taxes or has made arrangements, satisfactory to the appropriate tax authority, for the payment of the taxes;
    h. declares that person’s assets and liabilities, as prescribed;
    i. pays the prescribed election fee on, or before, the date fixed for the delivery of nomination papers; and
    j. is supported by at least one hundred registered voters from each Province.
    ... (Art. 100)
Vice-President
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    1. There shall be a Vice-President for the Republic who shall be the running mate to a presidential candidate in a presidential election.
    2. The qualifications and disqualifications applying to a presidential candidate apply to the person selected by the presidential candidate to be the running mate.
    3. An election to the office of Vice-President shall be conducted at the same time as that of an election to the office of President so that a vote cast for a presidential candidate is a vote cast for the running mate, and if the presidential candidate is elected, the running mate shall be considered to have been elected.
    ... (Art. 110)
Government
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    There shall be a Cabinet consisting of the—
    a. President;
    b. Vice-President;
    c. Ministers; and
    d. Attorney-General, as ex-officio member. (Art. 113)
Government
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    1. The functions of Cabinet are as follows:
    a. approve and cause to be implemented Government policy;
    … (Art. 114)
Government
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    1. The President shall appoint a prescribed number of Members of Parliament as Ministers.
    … (Art. 116)
Legislature
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    1. The electoral systems provided for in Article 47 for the election of President, Member of Parliament or councillor shall ensure—
    a. that citizens are free to exercise their political rights;
    b. universal adult suffrage based on the equality of a vote;
    c. fair representation of the various interest groups in society; ... (Art. 45)
Legislature
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    The legislative authority of the Republic derives from the people of Zambia and shall be exercised in a manner that protects this Constitution and promotes the democratic governance of the Republic. (Art. 61)
Legislature
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    1. There is established the Parliament of Zambia which consists of the President and the National Assembly.
    2. The legislative authority of the Republic is vested in and exercised by Parliament.
    3. A person or body, other than Parliament, shall not have power to enact legislation, except as conferred by this Constitution.
    ... (Art. 62)
Legislature
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    1. Parliament shall enact legislation through Bills passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.
    … (Art. 63)
Legislature
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    1. A Member of Parliament shall be elected in accordance with Article 47 (2) and this Article.
    2. The National Assembly shall consist of—
    a. one hundred and fifty-six members directly elected on the basis of a simple majority vote under the first-past-the-post system;
    b. not more than eight nominated members;
    c. the Vice-President;
    ... (Art. 68)
Legislature
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    1. The President may nominate a person referred to in Article 68 (2) (b) where the President considers it necessary to enhance the representation of special interests, skills or gender in the National Assembly.
    2. A person may be nominated as a Member of Parliament if the person qualifies to be elected as such under Article 70.
    ... (Art. 69)
Legislature
  • English
    1. Subject to clause (2), a person is eligible to be elected as a Member of Parliament, if that person—
    a. is a citizen;
    b. is at least twenty-one years old;
    c. is a registered voter;
    d. has obtained, as a minimum academic qualification, a grade twelve certificate or its equivalent; and
    e. declares that person’s assets and liabilities, as prescribed.
    ... (Art. 70)
Links to all sites last visited 25 March 2024
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Part IV on Citizenship.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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These articles are from Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.