President
1 published candidate
General Election
Third Republic
2021 General Election
A multiparty general election resulting in a change of government. The ECZ reform report records Hakainde Hichilema receiving 2,852,348 votes, 59.4 percent of valid votes, and Edgar Lungu receiving 1,870,780 votes, 38.3 percent.
Archived
: Election status from the public election record.
Unverified
: This record has not yet been verified.
Election outcome
How the election was won
President elected
Hakainde Hichilema
United Party for National Development (UPND)
59.4%
Vote share
Winner
Hakainde Hichilema
2,852,348 votes
Runner-up
Edgar Lungu
Patriotic Front (PF)
1,870,780 votes (38.3%)
- Registered voters
- 7,023,499
- Votes cast
- 4,959,332
- Turnout
- 70.61%
Key facts at a glance
Winner
Hakainde Hichilema — 2,852,348 votes
Runner-up
Edgar Lungu — 1,870,780 votes
Winner share of valid votes
59.4%
Recorded turnout
70.61%
UPND parliamentary seats
82
PF parliamentary seats
59
What was happening before the election
Incumbent President Edgar Lungu and PF sought another term. Hakainde Hichilema and UPND challenged after several previous presidential campaigns. Sixteen presidential candidates appeared in ECZ’s national results.
How the election worked
The President and running mate were elected together and needed more than 50 percent of valid votes. National Assembly representatives were elected in single-member constituency contests.
How the outcome was decided
Hakainde Hichilema won 2,852,348 votes, recorded by the ECZ reform report as 59.4 percent of valid votes. Edgar Lungu received 1,870,780 votes, recorded as 38.3 percent. The result therefore cleared the constitutional majority threshold without a second ballot.
What happened in Parliament
UPND won 82 National Assembly seats, PF 59, PNUP 1 and independent candidates 13. Voting in Kaumbwe Constituency was postponed after a candidate’s death and held later as a by-election.
Why this election mattered
The election produced a change of government from PF to UPND and Zambia’s third transfer of presidential power between political parties since the restoration of multiparty politics.
Offices and candidates
Browse the published candidates connected to this election.