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General Information
African Fish Eagle, Zambia’s National Bird
The government of Zambia is elected in a multi-
party general election every five years. Before the
first multi-party elections were held in 1991, Ken-
neth Kaunda ruled the country in a one party state
system. The Movement for Multiparty Democracy
(MMD), is now the ruling power in government. Their
economic policy has been, and continues to be cen-
tred around moving Zambia from a centralized, state
driven economy, to a more private liberal private sec-
tor driven open market economy.
The Constitution
The Republican Constitution has changed four
times in 32 years. Zambia became a republic im-
mediately upon gaining independence in October
of 1964. However, the constitution of independence
was replaced by a new constitution published on Au-
gust 25, 1973. The new constitution and the national
elections that followed in December 1973 were the
final steps in achieving what was called a “one-party
participatory democracy.”
The 1973 constitution consolidated much power in
the office of the President, and a unicameral National
Assembly. UNIP was the only political party allowed
to legally exist in Zambia at the time. Thus, the Cen-
tral Committee of the United National freedom Party
(UNIP) drafted and formulated national policies that
were carried out by the UNIP Cabinet in government.
National Anthem
Stand and sing of Zambia proud and free,
Land of works and joy in unity,
Victors in the struggle for the right,
We have won freedom’s fight.
All one, strong and free.
Africa is our own motherland,
Fashioned with and blessed by God’s good hand.
Let us all her people join as one,
Brothers under the sun, All one,
Strong and free.
One land and one nation is our cry,
Dignity and peace beneath the Zambian sky.
Like our noble eagle in its flight,
Zambia, praise to thee.
All one, strong and free.
Praise to God, Bless our great nation,
Free men we stand, Under the flag of our land,
Zambia praise to thee,
All one strong and free
GOVERNMENT, EXECUTIVE,
AND JUDICIARY
In order to ensure UNIP supremacy within the post-
independence Zambian political system, the consti-
tution stipulated that the sole candidate in elections
for the office of president was the person selected to
be the president of UNIP by the party’s general con-
ference. The second-ranking person in the Zambian
political hierarchy at the time was UNIP’s secretary
general. Over time, this uni-party system would sow
the seeds of its own demise.