Zambia has officially entered election season following the dissolution of the country’s 13th National Assembly at midnight on May 15, setting the stage for the August 13 general elections. The dissolution marks the beginning of a 90-day electoral period as political parties intensify preparations for one of the country’s most significant democratic events.
President Hakainde Hichilema used his final Cabinet meeting before Parliament’s dissolution to highlight the achievements of his administration, placing economic recovery and service delivery at the centre of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) campaign message.
Among the key achievements cited by the President were the expansion of free education to more than 2.5 million children, a sharp increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K1.6 million in 2021 to K40 million per constituency, and the recruitment of over 45,000 teachers across the country.
The President also pointed to progress in the mining sector, particularly the revival of operations at Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), describing them as signs of economic recovery following years of fiscal strain. He called for continuity, arguing that ongoing reforms require time to fully deliver results.
While acknowledging challenges such as the rising cost of living and youth unemployment, Hichilema said measures were being implemented to address these concerns and urged citizens to assess the government’s performance over its full term.
The dissolution of Parliament, carried out under Article 81(3) of the Constitution, formally transitions the country into full campaign mode. Candidate nominations for parliamentary and local government elections are scheduled for May 18–19, with voting set for August 13.
President Hichilema also linked Zambia’s economic progress to political stability, stating that the peaceful environment since 2021 has helped attract an estimated US$12 billion in mining investment, while progress in debt restructuring has reduced annual debt service obligations from US$2.3 billion to about US$900 million.
Speaking during the swearing-in of new Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officials, including Vice-Chairperson Vincent Mukanda and Commissioner Zevyanji Sinkala, the President urged the commission to ensure a credible and transparent electoral process. The ECZ leadership reaffirmed its commitment to fairness and stakeholder engagement throughout the election period.
Economic indicators released ahead of the election have also painted a cautiously optimistic picture. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently reported improvements in Zambia’s economy, including gross international reserves rising to US$6.4 billion, equal to 4.4 months of import cover, while inflation eased to 6.8% in April, remaining within the central bank’s target range.
Despite these gains, the IMF warned of potential risks related to pre-election spending, food reserve expenditures, and global oil price volatility.
With Parliament now dissolved, government spending decisions are limited under constitutional guidelines, although a K26.3 billion supplementary budget was approved before dissolution to ensure uninterrupted public service delivery during the election period.
As the country transitions into campaign season, political activity is expected to intensify through June and July, with the outcome of the August polls set to determine the composition of Zambia’s 14th National Assembly and shape the country’s future economic and political direction.
