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{{Infobox Election
| election_name     = Zambian general election, 2016
| country           = Zambia
| type              = presidential
| ongoing           = no
| previous_election = Zambian presidential election, 2015
| previous_year     = 2015
| next_election     = Zambian general election, 2021
| next_year         = 2021
| election_date     = 11 August 2016
| registered        = 6,698,372<ref>[https://www.elections.org.zm/register_statistics.php Register statistics] Electoral Commission of Zambia</ref>
| needed_votes      = 
| turnout           = 56.45% 
| image1            = [[File:Edgar Lungu January 2015.jpg|103px]]
| nominee1          = [[Edgar Lungu]]
| running_mate1     = [[Inonge Wina]]
| party1            = Patriotic Front (Zambia)
| color1            = 3063ae
| popular_vote1     = 1,860,877
| percentage1       = 50.35% 
| swing1            = 
| image2            = [[File:Hakainde Hichilema 2014.jpg|110px]]
| nominee2          = [[Hakainde Hichilema]]
| running_mate2     = [[Geoffrey Mwamba]]
| party2            = United Party for National Development
| color2            = d22027
| popular_vote2     = 1,760,347 
| percentage2       = 47.63% 
| swing2            =   
| map_image         = Zambia general election results map 2016.png
| map_size          = 225px
| map_caption       = Presidential election results map. <span style="color:#3063ae;">Blue</span> denotes constituencies won by Lungu, and <span style="color:#d22027;">Red</span> denotes those won by Hichilema. 
| title             = President
| before_election   = [[Edgar Lungu]]
| before_party      = Patriotic Front (Zambia)
| after_election    = [[Edgar Lungu]]
| after_party       = Patriotic Front (Zambia)
}}

'''General elections''' were held on 11 August 2016 to elect the [[President of Zambia|President]] and [[National Assembly (Zambia)|National Assembly]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30891239 Zambia votes in presidential elections] BBC News, 20 January 2015</ref><ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/zambia-sets-presidential-election-august-2016-160104090148204.html Zambia sets presidential election to August 2016] Al Jazeera, 4 January 2016</ref> A [[Zambian constitutional referendum, 2016|constitutional referendum]] will be held alongside the elections, with proposals to amend the bill of rights and Article 79.<ref>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/03/16/government-to-hold-referendum-along-side-the-2016-general-elections/ Government to hold Referendum along side the 2016 General Elections] Lusaka Times, 16 March 2015</ref>

==Background==
The [[Zambian general election, 2011|previous general elections]] in 2011 resulted in a victory for the [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] (PF), whose candidate [[Michael Sata]] was elected President, with the PF winning 61 of the 150 seats in the National Assembly.<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2359_E.htm Last elections] IPU</ref> Following Sata's death in October 2014, [[Zambian presidential election, 2015|early presidential elections]] were held to elect a successor to complete the remainder of his five-year term, and PF candidate [[Edgar Lungu]] was elected. Edgar Lungu beat [[Hakainde Hichilema]] of the [[United Party for National Development]] by just 27,757 votes and the opposition has yet to accept the credibility of the election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/01/25/zambia-ruling-party-candidate-wins-presidential-election|title=Ruling party candidate Edgar Lungu sworn in as new Zambian president|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>

==Electoral system==
Although previously the President had been elected in a single round of voting by the ''first-past-the-post system'', in 2015 the National Assembly approved the change in the constitution to change to a [[two-round system]].<ref>[http://www.janes.com/article/56569/closely-fought-2016-election-would-increase-localised-violence-risks-and-put-pressure-on-zambia-s-austerity-plans Closely fought 2016 election would increase localised violence risks and put pressure on Zambia's austerity plans] IHS Jane's 360, 9 December 2015</ref> The constitutional change also introduced the concept of running mates; previously the vice president was appointed after the elections. The running mate, now being an elected member, can assume office directly if the president is deemed unfit to rule.<ref name=HZ>[http://www.herald.co.zw/expectant-mood-as-zambians-gear-for-general-elections/ Expectant mood as Zambians gear for general elections] The Herald, 4 July 2016</ref> 

Of the 159 members of the National Assembly, 150 are elected by the first-past-the-post system in single-member constituencies, with a further eight appointed by the President and a Speaker elected from outside the National Assembly.<ref>[http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2814/ Republic of Zambia] IFES</ref>

The voting age is 18, whilst National Assembly candidates must be at least 21.<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2359_B.htm Electoral system] IPU</ref>

==Statistics==
*Total Registered Voters:	4,713,752
*Total Votes Cast:	2,681,328
*Total Votes Rejected:	60,490
*Turnout:	56.88%

==Candidates==
A total of nine candidates along with their running mates registered to run for the presidency. Out of the 46 political parties, only five managed to pay their candidate's deposit by the deadline of 17 May 2016. The deadline was subsequently extended by a day, with four other parties nominating a candidate.<ref>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/05/18/only-5-parties-to-take-party-in-presidential-elections/ "Only 5 Parties to take party in the Presidential Elections as Frank Bwalya mocks Eric Chanda"], ''Lusaka Times'', 18 May 2016.</ref> 

The race is expected to be a close race mainly between [[Edgar Lungu]] of the [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] and [[Hakainde Hichilema]] of the [[United Party for National Development]]. Both leaders competed in the [[Zambian presidential election, 2015|2015 presidential elections]] and Lungu won by a very narrow margin.<ref name=HZ/> 

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|Presidential candidate
!Running Mate
!Party
|-
|1
|Tiyenji Chanda Kaunda
|Njekwa Ement Anamela
|[[United National Independence Party]]
|-
|2
|Nawakwi Zewelani Edith
|Clement Mwanza
|[[Forum for Democracy and Development]]
|-
|3
|[[Edgar Lungu]]
|[[Inonge Wina]]
|[[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]]
|-
|4
|Saviour Chishimba
|Sinanzeni Chuma
|[[United Progressive Party (Zambia)|United Progressive Party]]
|-
|5
|Wynter Kabimba
|Cosmas Musumali
|[[Rainbow Party (Zambia)|Rainbow Party]]
|-
|6
|[[Peter Sinkamba]]
|Tafeni Clement 
|Green Party
|-
|7
|[[Hakainde Hichilema]]
|Geoffrey Mwamba
|[[United Party for National Development]]
|-
|8
|Andyford Banda
|Enock Tonga
|People's Alliance for Change
|-
|9
|Maxwell Mwamba
|Rosemary Kabungo
|Democratic Assembly
|}

==Violence and incidents==
*Both sides traded accusations of inciting violence for political gain; the ruling [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] accused the [[United Party for National Development]] (UPND), of inciting unnecessary violence, and carrying out its “Operation Watermelon” to create tension in the country. In response, the UPND accused the Patriotic Front of politicising state entities against them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-lungu-pre-election-warning/3447937.html|title=Zambia’s Lungu Issues Warning on Election-linked Violence|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> 

* On 10 June, violent outbreaks occurred in [[Lusaka]] after the government made the decision to suspend the operations of [[The Post (Zambia)|''The Post'']] newspaper (one of the few independent newspapers in the country).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/zambia-government-suspends-election-campaigns|title=Zambia: Government Suspends Election Campaigns {{!}} Freedom House|website=freedomhouse.org|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> 
*On 23 June the government started taking action against ''The Post'' for unpaid taxes of around $6 million; the newspaper denied the claim saying the issue was still being discussed in court. The opposition accused the government of silencing the media to reduce their coverage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/28/zambia-accused-of-attacking-press-freedom-as-newspaper-is-closed/|title=Zambia accused of attacking press freedom as newspaper is closed and editor jailed|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-politics-idUSKCN0Z91ZI|title=Opposition leader says Zambia unlikely to have free elections|date=2016-06-23|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> 
[[File:UPND-cadres-along-Cairo-road-as-they-march-to-Chawama.png|thumb|right|[[UPND]] cadres along [[Cairo Road]] as they marched to [[Chawama]].]]
* On 8 July, police in [[Lusaka]] killed one [[UPND]] female supporter after they ambushed a group of supporters that were marching on the [[Central Business District]] after Police cancelled a planned rally in [[Chawama]]. [[Mapenzi Chibulu]] was pronounced dead on arrival at the [[University Teaching Hospital]] (UTH) and another male UPND cadre was seriously injured and admitted to UTH.<ref>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/09/police-shoot-dead-female-upnd-supporter-lusaka/ Police shoot dead female UPND supporter in Lusaka], [[LusakaTimes]], 9 July 2016</ref>
* On 9 July, the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia]] (ECZ) suspended suspended campaigns in [[Lusaka]] and [[Namwala]] districts for 10 days due to the rise in political violence in some districts which resulted in injury, loss of life and property. During the suspension, there was no public rallies, meetings, processions or door to door campaigns. All branded campaign motor vehicles in Lusaka and Namwala Districts were parked and were not allowed to be used for any purpose. The suspension was lifted on 18 July 2016.<ref name=LTviolence>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/09/suspension-campaigns-lusaka-namwala-districts/ ECZ suspends campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala districts] [[LusakaTimes]], 9 July 2016</ref>
*On 20 July [[Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba]], the vice president of the [[UPND]], was arrested along with several party officials with the accusation that they were trying to start a private militia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/zambian-opposition-leaders-jailed-as-elections-near/a-19132564|title=Zambian opposition leaders jailed as elections near|last=(www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche Welle|website=DW.COM|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> The police raided his house and found petrol bombs, machetes and spears. The opposition denied the claims that the weapons were planted there after the arrest. The police raided the house following alleged political poster vandals hiding in the house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36845136|title=Zambia police tear gas opposition leader Mwamba's home - BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> A total of 28 people were arrested in the raid.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-politics-idUSKCN1001QS|title=Zambia police arrest 28 in raid on opposition official's home|date=2016-07-20|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>
==Ballot papers==
[[File:2016 ballots in Zambia.jpg|thumb|left|Ballot boxes for the 2016 Zambia general elections]]
There was a lot of controversy in the printing of the ballot papers; previously all ballot papers had been printed in South Africa, but the Electoral commission of Zambia awarded the contract for the 2016 elections to a firm in Dubai. The contract was significantly more expensive and many opposition parties criticised the move. Parties opposed the move as printing the ballot papers outside Africa was expensive to verify and increased the chance of electoral fraud.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/printing-zambia-ballot-papers-on-course-commission-says/3409989.html|title=Printing of Zambia Ballots on Course, Electoral Commission Reports|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> To counter the suspicion of rigging, the Electoral Commission allowed party officials to travel to Dubai to witness the printing of the ballots; all ballot papers were to be only released if all party officials approved of the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-opposition-having-ballots-printed-dubai-could-undermine-vote/3429490.html|title=Zambia Opposition: Having Ballots Printed in Dubai Could Undermine Vote|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> The printing was completed on 20 July 2016 and the ballots were transported to Zambia on 28 July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/27/last-batch-ballot-papers-transported-dubai-airport/|title=Zambia : Last batch of ballot papers transported to Dubai Airport|last=Editor|first=Chief|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> However, concerns with respect to the transport and distribution of the ballot papers then arose. The [[Zambian Air Force]] were responsible for distributing the ballots across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/ballots-zambian-elections-arrive-this-week/3437504.html|title=Ballots for Zambian Elections to Arrive This Week|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>

==Voting==
Polling stations opened at 06hours and  where expected to closed at 18hour those that opened late where given extra time the last polling station in Nalolo district Namawunga polling station closed at 0200am the following day cause it opened late. The vote turnout was high as went to the polls as early as 02hours waiting for the polling stations to open.

In the [[Western Province]] the first voter arrived at 02:00am but had to wait for the [[Litunga]] to cast the first vote.

==Results==
Results announced by the electoral commission on 15 August 2016 showed Edgar Lungu winning the presidential election with slightly more than 50.35% of the vote, ahead of his only serious competitor, Hakainde Hichilema, who received almost 47.63%

===President===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
!Candidate
!Party
!Votes
!%
|-
|align=left|[[Edgar Lungu]]||align=left|[[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]]||1,860,877||50.35
|-
|align=left|[[Hakainde Hichilema]]||align=left|[[United Party for National Development]]||1,760,347||47.63
|-
|align=left|[[Edith Nawakwi]]||align=left|[[Forum for Democracy and Development]]||24,149||0.65
|-
|align=left|Andyford Banda||align=left|People's Alliance for Change||15,791||0.43
|-
|align=left|Wynter Kabimba||align=left|[[Rainbow Party (Zambia)|Rainbow Party]]||9,504||0.26
|-
|align=left|Saviour Chishimba||align=left|[[United Progressive Party (Zambia)|United Progressive Party]]||9,221||0.25
|-
|align=left|[[Tilyenji Kaunda]]||align=left|[[United National Independence Party]]||8,928||0.24
|-
|align=left|[[Peter Sinkamba]]||align=left|Green Party of Zambia||4,515||0.12
|-
|align=left|Maxwell Mwamba||align=left|Democratic Assembly||2,378||0.06
|-
|align=left colspan=2|Invalid/blank votes||85,795||–
|-
|align=left colspan=2|'''Total'''||'''6,698,372'''||'''100'''
|-
|align=left colspan=2|Registered voters/turnout||3,781,505||56.45
|-
|align=left colspan=4|Source: [https://www.elections.org.zm/general_election_2016.php Electoral Commission of Zambia] 
|}

===National Assembly===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
!Party
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!+/–
|-
|align=left|[[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]]||1,537,946||42.01||80||+20
|-
|align=left|[[United Party for National Development]]||1,525,049||41.66||58||+30
|-
|align=left|[[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]]||99,356||2.71||3||–52
|-
|align=left|[[Forum for Democracy and Development]]||79,489||2.17||1||0
|-
|align=left|[[Rainbow Party (Zambia)|Rainbow Party]]||34,906||0.95||0||New
|-
|align=left|[[National Restoration Party (Zambia)|National Restoration Party]]||10,887||0.30||0||0
|-
|align=left|[[Alliance for Democracy and Development (Zambia)|Alliance for Democracy and Development]]||8,269||0.23||0||–1
|-
|align=left|United Democratic Front||7,643||0.21||0||New
|-
|align=left|[[United National Independence Party]]||7,253||0.20||0||0
|-
|align=left|Golden Progressive Party||1,461||0.04||0||New
|-
|align=left|Radical Revolutionary Party||831||0.02||0||New
|-
|align=left|Green Party of Zambia||407||0.01||0||New
|-
|align=left|United Progressive People||333||0.01||0||New
|-
|align=left|Independents||347,005||9.48||14||+11
|-
|align=left|Invalid/blank votes||92,044||–||–||–
|-
|align=left|'''Total'''||'''3,752,879'''||'''100'''||'''156'''||'''+6'''
|-
|align=left|Registered voters/turnout||6,698,372||56.03||–||–
|-
|align=left colspan=5|Source: [https://www.elections.org.zm/results/2016_national_assembly_elections Electoral Commission of Zambia], [https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=77536 Daily Mail]
|}

==Reactions==
===Local===
The main opposition critisized the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia|electoral commission]] for participating in fraud as they significantly delayed the announcement of the results. Claiming that the slow counting of the votes is unexplained.

[[Electoral Commission of Zambia|Election officials]] denied this, saying the slow publication of the results was because there were five different votes on Thursday - for president, parliament, mayors, local councillors and an amendment to the constitution on changes to the bill of rights.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37082475 Zambia elections: Opposition UPND alleges fraud], BBC, 15 August 2016</ref>

===International===
*EU observers commended the Zambian people for conducting peaceful elections and deemed the election process free and transparent despite some delays. However, the EU commission accused state media of being unbalanced in its report.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/election-observers-in-zambia-report-media-biased-in-vote/a-19473207|title=Election observers in Zambia report media 'biased' in vote {{!}} News {{!}} DW.COM {{!}} 13.08.2016|last=(www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche Welle|website=DW.COM|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref>
*The US based Carter Center said that the election was conducted in a highly tense atmosphere and that there is alot of polarization due to inter-party politics. The Center is also concerned with the huge delay in the announcement of the results by the electoral commission.
*African Union: Goodluck Jonathan, the head of the AU observer mission in Zambia, also deemed election day to have been peaceful. However, like the EU, he noted that state media had been biased towards the ruling party. Furthermore, he also added that holding the referendum at the same time as the elections caused confusion to many voters and added complexity to the election process.<ref name=":0" />

* Southern African Development Community: The SADC observer mission along with COMESA, Commonwealth, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region all concluded that the election was conducted in a free and fair environment. Jakaya Kikwete, leader of the commonwealth observer mission in the country said that the pockets of violence in the country and the way the police handled the situation was unfortunate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zambiareports.com/2016/08/13/au-sadc-carter-center-other-observers-declare-zambia-polls-free-fair/|title=AU, SADC, Carter Center & Other Observers Declare Zambia Polls Free & Fair|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZqVXJtbfvw|350|right| 15 Aug 2016: Riots in [[Southern Province]] after re-election of [[Edgar Lungu]]|frame}}
PF members took to the street to celebrate Lungu's victory,<ref name=ZAM>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/a/zambia-president-reelected-in-close-vote/3464823.html|title=Zambia President Re-Elected in Close Vote|access-date=2016-08-16}}</ref> whilst riots took place in most parts of the country leading to property being destroyed and roads blocked. 133 protesters were arrested.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/zambia-arrests-133-protesters-contested-election-160816080236912.html Zambia arrests 133 protesters after contested election] Al Jazeera, 16 August 2016</ref>. The UPND rejected the results, saying that the electoral commission had colluded to rig the result in favour of Lungu,<ref name=AJ>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/zambia-arrests-133-protesters-contested-election-160816080236912.html|title=Zambia arrests 133 protesters after contested election|access-date=2016-08-16}}</ref> also stating that they would appeal the results at the Constitutional Court, accusing election officials of fraud during the count.<ref name=AJ/>

On 16 August, Lungu held a celebratory rally at [[Woodlands Stadium]] in [[Lusaka]] as his re-election secured him another 5 years.

==See also==
* [[Elections in Zambia]]
* [[Electoral Commission of Zambia]]
* [[Election petition]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Zambian elections}}

{{Zambian political parties}}

[[Category:Elections in Zambia]]
[[Category:Presidential elections in Zambia]]
[[Category:2016 in Zambia]]
[[Category:2016 in Zambian politics]]