Zambia’s 2026 general elections: Democratic progress amid persistent challenges

As Zambia approaches its general elections on 13 August 2026, three interconnected challenges threaten electoral quality and democratic accountability: strategic electoral violence; politicized use of the judiciary to overturn opposition victories; and a chronic under­representation of women and lower-income citizens. All three are compounded by a presidential office with formal powers that remain too extensive to safeguard democratic checks and balances. While Zambia has maintained competitive elections since 1991, these persistent deficits risk undermining democratic consolidation.