UPND Won 82 Constituencies In General Election

The United Party for National Development won 82 constituencies in last Thursday’s general elections, securing a majority of four in the national assembly. It comes in addition to the landslide victory of the party’s presidential candidate, Hakainde Hichilema.

The UPND stole a number of key seats from the Patriotic Front, including Lusaka Central, which has been represented by the PF since 2006. The UPND also scored victories in traditional PF heartlands, returning an MP for Chipata Central constituency in Eastern Province.

Overall, the party of Edgar Lungu won 63 seats. 10 seats will be represented by independent candidates and one seat - Nalolo constituency in Western Province - by the PNUP. Kaumbwe constituency in Eastern Province is yet to hold an election following the death of UPND candidate Petauke Bornface Khondowe in July. 

The results follow Monday’s announcement that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has been elected president, beating incumbent Edgar Lungu by a margin of 996,556 votes.

The new president-elect came out on top in six of Zambia’s ten provinces, delivering a strong performance in the key battlegrounds of Lusaka and the Copperbelt. 

The election received unprecedented turnout, with 71% of registered voters casting their ballots in presidential, parliamentary and local elections.