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Zambia

Republic of Zambia

English common law with customary lawPresidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Lusaka
Population
20,600,000
Languages
English
Currency
ZMW

Zambia · Constitution

Constitution of Zambia

The 1991 Constitution restored multiparty government and has been amended repeatedly. The 2016 amendment was the most consequential: it created a separate Constitutional Court, introduced a running mate for the presidency, required a majority of votes cast to win the presidency, and imposed a fourteen-day limit for hearing presidential election petitions. That fourteen-day rule produced a crisis in 2016 when the petition lapsed unheard.

The constitutional text

The 1991 Constitution restored multiparty government and has been amended repeatedly. The 2016 amendment was the most consequential: it created a separate Constitutional Court, introduced a running mate for the presidency, required a majority of votes cast to win the presidency, and imposed a fourteen-day limit for hearing presidential election petitions. That fourteen-day rule produced a crisis in 2016 when the petition lapsed unheard.

Separation of powers

Unitary with ten provinces and decentralised district councils. Chiefs administer customary land through the House of Chiefs, which advises on matters of custom and tradition.

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