Democracy and Electoral Politics in Zambia

Democracy and Electoral Politics in Zambia aims to comprehend the current dynamics of Zambia’s democracy and to understand what was specific about the 2015/2016 election experience. While elections have been central to understanding Zambian politics over the last decade, the coverage they have received in the academic literature has been sparse. This book aims to fill that gap and give a more holistic account of contemporary Zambian electoral dynamics, by providing innovative analysis of political parties, mobilization methods, the constitutional framework, the motivations behind voters’ choices and the adjudication of electoral disputes by the judiciary. This book draws on insights and interviews, public opinion data and innovative surveys that aim to tell a rich and nuanced story about Zambia’s recent electoral history from a variety of disciplinary approaches.

Contributors include: Tinenenji Banda, Nicole Beardsworth, John Bwalya, Privilege Haang’andu, Erin Hern, Marja Hinfelaar, Dae Un Hong, O’Brien Kaaba, Robby Kapesa, Chanda Mfula, Jotham Momba, Biggie Joe Ndambwa, Muna Ndulo, Jeremy Seekings, Hangala Siachiwena, Sishuwa Sishuwa, Owen Sichone, Aaron Siwale, Michael Wahman.

Tinenenji Banda is a faculty member in the Private Law Department of the University of Zambia and a Research Fellow at the Southern African Institute of Policy and Research. A dual-qualified attorney (New York and Zambia), she completed her doctoral studies at Cornell University in 2012 and holds LLM and LLB degrees from Cornell University and the University of Cape Town respectively.

O’Brien Kaaba, LLB Hons (University of London), LLM (University of Zambia), LLD (University of South Africa) is a faculty member at the School of Law at the University of Zambia and a senior research fellow at SAIPAR. He has formerly served as Elections Manager for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) in Zambia.

Marja Hinfelaar is Director of Research and Programs at Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR), Lusaka, Zambia and Honorary Research Fellow at the Global Development Institute of the University of Manchester. She received her PhD in History (Utrecht, 2001). Her work focuses on post-colonial political history and state-church relations. She has been resident in Zambia since 1997.

Muna Ndulo is Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, Elizabeth and Arthur Reich Director of the Leo and Arvilla Berger International Legal Studies Program and Director of the Institute for African Development. He is a graduate of the University of Zambia (LLB); Harvard University (LLM); and Trinity College, Oxford University (DPhil 1977). He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of constitution-making, governance, human rights and foreign direct investment.