Zambia - December 2025

On 18 December, President Hakainde Hichilema signed into law constitutional amendments that analysts fear could undermine the credibility of the forthcoming general election, slated for 12 August 2026. Among these revisions is a substantial increase in the size of the National Assembly, with the number of elected MPs going from 156 to 266 (a 58.6 per cent increase), including an additional 70 new constituency-based members. This expansion is based on a boundary delimitation report produced by Zambia’s election commission, but the government’s refusal to make the report public has fuelled widespread suspicions of gerrymandering in favour of the ruling party. Also criticised is a provision that appears to extend MP’s access to public resources until a day before a general election, where previously this ended when parliament was dissolved, 90 days prior to the election. This is likely to further strengthen incumbency advantage and reduce the competitiveness of parliamentary contests. 

Sources: The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2025, Lusaka Times, Amulufeblog, Democracy in Africa, ConstitutionNet