The Government of Zambia - CountriesPedia

Zambia - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Zambia, it was name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

National symbols

African fish eagle; national colors: green, red, black, orange.

The flag

The National flag of Zambia has green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag; green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red symbolizes the struggle for freedom, black the people of Zambia, and orange the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems.

The National Anthem

Title	"Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)
Lyric/music	multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

note: adopted 1964; the melody, from the popular song "God Bless Africa," is the same as that of Tanzania but with different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa's anthem

More about the government of Zambia

Constitution
Date of Independence	24 October 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday	Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Legal system	mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991
Amendments	Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly; amended 1996, 2015, 2016; note - in late 2020, an amendment which would have altered the structure of the constitution was defeated in the National Assembly
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia
Citizenship by descent only	yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)
Head of government	President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)
Cabinet	Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
Elections/appointments	president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Election results	2021: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8% 2016: Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral National Assembly (167 seats statutory, 166 seats current; 156 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, and up to 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms); 3 ex-officio members elected by National Assembly membership
Elections	Last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)
Election results	Percent of vote by party - UPND 53.9%, PF 38.1%, PNUP 0.6%, independent 7.4%; seats by party - UPND 82, PF 62, PNUP 1, independent 11; composition - men 142, women 25, percentage women 15%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges); note - the Constitutional Court began operation in June 2016
Judge selection and term of office	Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65
Subordinate courts	Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)
Chancery	2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 234-4009
FAX	[1] (202) 332-0826
Email address and website	[email protected] https://www.zambiaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)
Embassy	Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka
Mailing address	2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310
Telephone	[260] (0) 211-357-000
FAX	[260] (0) 211-357-224
Email address and website	[email protected] https://zm.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	1 (natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls