The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act, 2025

An Act to amend the Constitution of Zambia. [ 18th December, 2025
ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia. 1. This Act may be cited as the Constitution of Zambia
(Amendment) Act, 2025, and shall be read as one with the
Constitution of Zambia, in this Act referred to as the Constitution. 2. Article 47 of the Constitution is amended by the—
(a) deletion of clause (2) and (3) and the substitution therefor
of the following:
(2) Elections to the National Assembly shall be
conducted under a mixed-member proportional
representation electoral system, as follows:
(a) first-past-the-post electoral system for
Members of Parliament contesting for
constituency-based seats; and
(b) proportional representation electoral system
for women, youths and persons with
disabilities, as prescribed.; and
(3) Elections to councils shall be conducted
under a mixed-member proportional representation
electoral system, as follows:
Short title
Cap. 1
Amendment
of Article 47
Enactment
Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) [No. 13 of 2025 177
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No. 13 of 2025
Date of Assent: 18th December, 2025
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O.

OVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No. 13 of 2025
Date of Assent: 18th December, 2025
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O.

Box 30136, 10101, Lusaka, Price K16.00 each

Box 30136, 10101, Lusaka, Price K16.00 each

(a) first-past-the-post electoral system for mayor
or council chairperson;
(b) first-past-the-post electoral system for
candidates contesting for ward-based seats;
and
(c) proportional representation electoral system
for a specified number of women, youths
and persons with disabilities, as prescribed.;
(b) insertion of the following new clause immediately after
clause (3):
(4) The seats under the proportional
representation electoral system, referred to in clause
(2) (b) and (3) (c), shall be distributed, as prescribed,
after a general election, by the Electoral Commission,
to political parties, in proportion to the total number
of valid votes received by a presidential candidate.;
and
(c) renumbering of clause (4) as clause (5). 3.

l parties, in proportion to the total number
of valid votes received by a presidential candidate.;
and
(c) renumbering of clause (4) as clause (5). 3.

Article 52 of the Constitution is amended —
(a) by the deletion of clause (1) and the substitution therefor
of the following:
(1) A person who intends to be a candidate for
election as President, Member of Parliament for a
constituency-based seat, mayor, council chairperson,
or councilor for a ward-based seat shall file that
person’s nomination paper to a returning officer,
supported by an affidavit stating that the person is
qualified for nomination for election as President,
Member of Parliament for a constituency-based seat,
mayor, council chairperson, or councilor for a ward-
based seat, in the manner, on the day, and at the time
and place set by the Electoral Commission, by
regulations.;
(b) in clause (4), by the insertion of the words “and determine”
immediately after the word “hear”; and
(c) by the deletion of clause (6) and the substitution therefor
of the following:
Amendment
of Article 52
178 No. 13 of 2025] Constitution of Zambia (Amendment)

deletion of clause (6) and the substitution therefor
of the following:
Amendment
of Article 52
178 No. 13 of 2025] Constitution of Zambia (Amendment)

(6) Where a candidate —
(a) resigns after having been nominated
in accordance with this Article, the
candidate shall not be eligible to
contest the election, and the election
shall proceed to be held on the date
prescribed for holding the election;
(b) has been disqualified by a court, after
close of nominations, the candidate
shall not be eligible to contest the
elections, and the election shall
proceed to be held on the date
prescribed for holding the election; or
(c) sponsored by a political party dies
before the date prescribed for the
holding of an election, the Electoral
Commission shall cancel the
election, and call for the filing of a
fresh nomination by the political
party whose candidate died, and the
election shall be held within thirty
days of filing of the fresh nomination. 4. Article 58 of the Constitution is amended by the deletion
of clause (2) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(2) The number of constituencies shall be equal to the
number of constituency-based seats in the National Assembly,
as specified in Article 68 (a). 5. The Constitution is amended by the repeal of Article 68
and the substitution therefor of the following:
68.

sembly,
as specified in Article 68 (a). 5. The Constitution is amended by the repeal of Article 68
and the substitution therefor of the following:
68.

(1) Subject to Article 82 (5), the National Assembly
shall consist of —
(a) two hundred and twenty-six Members of
Parliament holding constituency-based seats;
(b) forty Members of Parliament holding seats under
the proportional representation electoral system
in accordance with Article 47 (2) (b) as follows:
(i) twenty women;
Amendment
of Article 58
Repeal and
replacement
of Article 68
Composition
of National
Assembly
Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) [No. 13 of 2025 179

;
Amendment
of Article 58
Repeal and
replacement
of Article 68
Composition
of National
Assembly
Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) [No. 13 of 2025 179

(ii) fifteen youths; and
(iii) five persons with disabilities;
(c) not more than eleven nominated Members of
Parliament;
(d) the Vice-President;
(e) the Speaker; and
(f) the First and Second Deputy Speakers. (2) Notwithstanding clause (1) (c), the number of
nominated Members of Parliament shall not exceed five
percent of the Members of Parliament holding constituency-
based seats. 6. The Constitution is amended by the repeal of Article 71
and the substitution therefor of the following:
71. (1) A nomination for a candidate of a constituency-
based seat is valid if the candidate—
(a) has paid a prescribed election fee to the Electoral
Commission; and
(b) is supported by at least fifteen persons registered
as voters in the constituency in which the
candidate is contesting for election. (2) A nomination for a seat under the proportional
representation electoral system, referred to in Article 47 (2)
(b) is valid if a prescribed election fee is paid to the Electoral
Commission. 7. Article 73 (2) of the Constitution is amended by the insertion
of the words “and determined” immediately after the word “heard”. 8.

ral
Commission. 7. Article 73 (2) of the Constitution is amended by the insertion
of the words “and determined” immediately after the word “heard”. 8.

Article 81 of the Constitution is amended by the deletion
of clause (3) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(3) Parliament shall stand dissolved ninety days before
the holding of the next general election but Members of
Parliament shall be deemed to have served until a day before
the next general election. 9. Article 103 (2) of the Constitution is amended by the
insertion of the words “and determine” immediately after the word
“hear”. Amendment
of Article 73
180 No. 13 of 2025] Constitution of Zambia (Amendment)
Repeal and
replacement
of Article 71
Nominations
for National
Assembly
election
Amendment
of Article 81
Amendment
of Article
103

of Zambia (Amendment)
Repeal and
replacement
of Article 71
Nominations
for National
Assembly
election
Amendment
of Article 81
Amendment
of Article
103

10. Article 116 of the Constitution is amended by the insertion
of the following new clause immediately after clause (3):
(4) Notwithstanding clause (3), the office of Minister
shall become vacant ninety days before a general election. 11. Article 117 of the Constitution is amended by the—
(a) insertion of the following new clause immediately after
clause (2):
(3) Notwithstanding clause (2), the office of
Provincial Minister shall become vacant ninety days
before a general election.; and
(b) renumbering of clause (3) as clause (4). 12. Article 149 (7) of the Constitution is amended by the
insertion of the word “electoral” immediately before the word
“boundaries”. 13.

clause (4). 12. Article 149 (7) of the Constitution is amended by the
insertion of the word “electoral” immediately before the word
“boundaries”. 13.

Article 153 of the Constitution is amended—
(a) by the deletion of clause (2) and the substitution therefor
of the following:
(2) A council shall consist of the following members:
(a) persons elected in accordance with clause (1);
(b) a Member of Parliament from each constituency
within the district;
(c) a mayor or council chairperson elected in
accordance with Article 154; and
(d) not more than three chiefs representing chiefs in
the district, elected by the chiefs in the district;
(b) in clause (3), by the deletion of words “clause (2) (b)”
and the substitution therefor of the words “clause
(2) (d ) ”;
(c) in clause (4), by the deletion of the words “excluding
councilors specified under clause (2) (b),” and the
substitution therefor of the words “ in accordance with
clause (1)”; and
(d) by the insertion of the following new clause immediately
after clause (6):
Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) [No. 13 of 2025 181
Amendment
of Article 116
Amendment
of Article 117
Amendment
of Article 149
Amendment
of Article
153

titution of Zambia (Amendment) [No. 13 of 2025 181
Amendment
of Article 116
Amendment
of Article 117
Amendment
of Article 149
Amendment
of Article
153

(7) Notwithstanding clause (6), members of a
council shall be deemed to have served until a day
before the next general election. 14. The Constitution is amended by the repeal of Article 154
and the substitution therefor of the following:
154. (1) There shall be a mayor and deputy mayor or
council chairperson and deputy council chairperson for every
council, as prescribed. (2) A person is eligible to be elected as a mayor or council
chairperson, if that person—
(a) is a citizen;
(b) is at least twenty-one years old;
(c) is a registered voter;
(d) has obtained, as a minimum academic qualification,
a grade twelve certificate or its equivalent; and
(e) declares that person’s assets and liabilities, as
prescribed. (3) A mayor and council chairperson shall be elected
directly, in accordance with Article 47 (4) during elections
for councillors, as prescribed. (4) A deputy mayor and a deputy council chairperson
shall be elected by the councillors from amongst themselves. 15. Article 159 (4) of the Constitution is amended by the
insertion of the words “and determined” immediately after the word
“heard”. 16.

themselves. 15. Article 159 (4) of the Constitution is amended by the
insertion of the words “and determined” immediately after the word
“heard”. 16.

Article 176 (3) of the Constitution is amended by the
deletion of the word “ten” and the substitution therefor of the word
“five” immediately before the word “years”. 17. Article 178 (1) of the Constitution is amended by the—
(a) deletion of paragraph (b); and
(b) renumbering of paragraphs (c) and (d) as paragraphs (b)
and (c), respectively. 18. Article 179 (4) of the Constitution is amended by the—
(a) deletion of paragraph (b); and
182 No. 13 of 2025] Constitution of Zambia (Amendment)
Repeal and
replacement
of Article
154
Mayor,
deputy
mayor,
council
chairperson
and deputy
chairperson
Amendment
of Article
159
Amendment
of Article
176
Amendment
of Article
178
Amendment
of Article
179

mayor,
council
chairperson
and deputy
chairperson
Amendment
of Article
159
Amendment
of Article
176
Amendment
of Article
178
Amendment
of Article
179

(b) renumbering of paragraphs (c) and (d) as paragraphs (b)
and (c), respectively. 19.

(b) renumbering of paragraphs (c) and (d) as paragraphs (b)
and (c), respectively. 19.

Article 266 of the Constitution is amended by —
(a) the deletion of the definitions of “adult”, “by-election”,
“child”, “election”, “general election” and “term” and
the substitution therefor of the following in the
appropriate places in alphabetical order:
“adult” means a person who has attained the age of
eighteen years;
“child” means a person who is below the age of
eighteen years;
“election” means an election to the office of
President, Member of Parliament, mayor, council
chairperson or a councillor;
“general election” means elections to the office of
President, Member of Parliament, mayor, council
chairperson or a councillor, when held on the same
day;
“term” means a period commencing when Parliament
or a council first sits, after a general election,
ending when Parliament is dissolved, except as is
provided under Article 106; and
“youth” means a person who has attained the age of
eighteen years, but is below the age of thirty-five
years; and
(b) the insertion of the following new definitions in the
appropriate places:
“constituency-based seat” means a seat in the
National Assembly that is held by a Member of
Parliament elected under the first-past-the-post
electoral system; and
“ward-based seat” means a seat in a council that is
held by a councilor elected under the first-past-
the-post electoral system.

electoral system; and
“ward-based seat” means a seat in a council that is
held by a councilor elected under the first-past-
the-post electoral system.

Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) [No. 13 of 2025 183
Amendment
of Article
266

184