Zambian Electoral Systems, Processes & Presidential Memorials

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarising Zambia’s presidential memorials, electoral systems, processes, offenses and safeguards.

Embassy Park

National burial site in Lusaka where Zambia’s late presidents are interred and honoured with symbolic mausoleums.

Levy Patrick Mwanawasa

Third President of Zambia (2001-2008); remembered for economic-development focus before his death in office.

Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba (FTJ)

Second President of Zambia (1991-2001); declared Zambia a Christian Nation and promoted home-ownership sales of council houses.

Michael Chilufya Sata

Fifth President (2011-2014); created 29 districts and Muchinga Province; mausoleum called the “King Solomon Temple.”

Kenneth David Kaunda

Founding President (1964-1991); championed motto “One Zambia, One Nation” to unite 73 tribes.

Rupiah Bwezani Banda

Fourth President (2008-2011); remembered for slogan “President for All Zambians.”

First Past the Post (Single Member Plurality System)

Winner-takes-all method where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, even without an absolute majority.

Single Member Majoritarian System (50%+1)

Electoral system requiring a candidate to secure over 50 percent of votes; if not, a second-round runoff is held.

Proportional Representation System

Seats are allocated to parties in proportion to the total votes they receive, usually via nationwide party lists.

Party List System

Most common PR variant; whole country is one constituency and parties fill seats from a ranked list of nominees.

Mixed Member Proportionality

Hybrid combining FPTP constituency seats with additional party-list seats to balance overall proportionality.

Electoral Process

Series of legal and administrative stages through which representatives are selected, from legislation to dispute resolution.

Running Mate

Vice-presidential candidate chosen by a presidential hopeful; elected simultaneously and assumes presidency if the office becomes vacant.

Delimitation

Drawing electoral boundaries for constituencies, wards and polling districts; normally done every ten years in Zambia.

Voter Education

Information campaigns by ECZ, civil society and faith groups teaching citizens how to register, vote and behave during elections.

Continuous Voter Registration

Ongoing ECZ programme allowing eligible citizens to enrol on the voters’ register at any time before a poll.

Voter’s Card

Document proving registration; contains personal details and polling station, and is required to vote.

Verification of Voter’s Roll

Public inspection of the provisional register so voters can confirm or correct their details before it is finalised.

Nomination Day

Deadline when candidates file nomination papers and meet qualification criteria; officially starts the campaign period.

Election Campaign

Organised activities—rallies, door-to-door canvassing, posters—used by candidates to win voter support, ending 24 hours before polling.

Polling Day

Official voting day (06:00–18:00); Zambians elect President, MPs and local leaders on a one-person-one-vote basis.

Secret Ballot

Voting method ensuring no one can see how another individual has marked a ballot paper.

Eligibility to Vote (Zambia)

Must be a Zambian citizen, 18 years or older, possess a Green NRC, valid voter’s card, and appear on the roll.

Indelible Ink

Permanent ink applied to a voter’s thumb to prevent multiple voting during an election.

Spoilt Ballot Paper

Ballot rendered invalid by inappropriate markings or damage; not counted toward any candidate.

Counting and Tabulation

Process of tallying votes at polling stations, then aggregating results at constituency and national centres for declaration.

Electoral Code of Conduct

Statutory rules governing behaviour of parties, media, police and other stakeholders to ensure a level playing field.

Electoral Offense

Any act that breaches electoral laws or regulations during nomination, campaigning or polling, subject to penalties.

Nomination Day Offenses

Illegal acts such as forging papers, bribing or threatening returning officers, or loitering within 400 m of the centre.

Campaign Period Offenses

Violations including vote-buying, violence, false allegations, misuse of state resources or defacing posters.

Poll Day Offenses

Prohibited actions like canvassing near stations, multiple voting, ballot theft, intimidation or false counting of results.

Penalties for Electoral Offenses

Up to 200,000 penalty units or five years’ imprisonment; offenders also lose voting or candidacy rights for five years.

General Election (Zambia)

Simultaneous nationwide polls for President, National Assembly, Mayor/Council Chairperson and Councillors every five years in August.

By-Election

Election held to fill a vacant parliamentary or local seat due to death, resignation or nullification; no presidential by-elections.

Presidential Election

Nationwide vote every five years to choose the Republican President and their running mate.

National Assembly Election

Poll to elect Members of Parliament every five years, open to party-sponsored or independent candidates.

Local Government Elections

District-level vote for Mayor/Council Chairperson and ward Councillors, held every five years.

Periodic Elections

Principle that elections occur at fixed, regular intervals to renew mandates.

Competitive Elections

Elections where all candidates may campaign freely and fairly without undue restrictions.

Inclusive Elections

Broad franchise allowing the vast majority of adult citizens to vote without discrimination.

Decisive Elections

Polls whose results determine who legitimately holds governmental power without obstruction.

Election Rigging

Manipulation of electoral processes—intimidation, fraud, misuse of resources—to distort results in favour of a party.

Dangers of Election Rigging

Leads to petitions, voter apathy, loss of democratic faith, civil unrest, and possible international sanctions.

Voter Protection

Safeguarding electoral materials, data and voters themselves from tampering, intimidation and fraud.

Importance of Voter Protection

Ensures transparency, prevents rigging, maintains public trust, avoids costly petitions, and promotes peaceful, legitimate governance.