Zambia's 2026 General Elections: Key Players, Legal Battles, and Political Alliances
Date: May 2, 2025
🗳️ Overview: Zambia's 2026 General Elections
Zambia will hold general elections on August 13, 2026, where citizens will vote for a new president, members of the National Assembly, and local councils. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced a structured roadmap for the elections, including registration, nominations, and campaign periods.
🔍 Major Political Alliances and Candidates
UPND Alliance
The ruling UPND Alliance is led by President Hakainde Hichilema. It includes allies such as the MMD and the Economic Front. You can learn more on Wikipedia's UPND Alliance entry.
Tonse Alliance and Edgar Lungu
The opposition Tonse Alliance initially announced former President Edgar Lungu as its candidate. However, in a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court declared Lungu ineligible for the 2026 race, citing that he has already served two terms. Details can be found in this AP News article.
⚖️ Constitutional Court Rules Out Lungu
The court emphasized that Lungu's service from 2015 to 2021 represents two full terms, effectively ending his eligibility for a third bid. This has forced the Tonse Alliance to reconsider its leadership and possible replacements.
📅 ECZ’s Election Roadmap
The ECZ outlined major steps including:
- Voter Registration: To be updated in early 2025.
- Nominations: Mid-2026 window for all candidates.
- Campaigns: Legal campaigning starts right after nomination confirmation.
🔄 Internal Party Drama: PF Reunites
In a surprise twist, Miles Sampa and Edgar Lungu were seen together at the PF Secretariat in Lusaka, signaling a reunification of factions within the party. Sampa went on to endorse Lungu as the PF candidate—despite the court ruling. This development adds complexity to the ongoing succession talks. Read more on our internal coverage:
PF Reunites: Miles Sampa Endorses Edgar Lungu for 2026 Presidency.
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🌐 What Lies Ahead?
The battle lines for 2026 are still being drawn. With Lungu officially out, PF must either find a legal workaround or name a successor. UPND seeks to retain its majority, while opposition alliances shuffle leaderships and strategies. The next few months will be decisive.
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