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1 [1] (December 21, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govefan0001 and id is 1 raw text is: lCongressional Research Service ;M Inferrnin g the legislative debate since 1914 0umnuunmn December 21, 2021 Zambia: 2021 Elections and New Government In Zambia's August 2021 general elections, longtime opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema won the presidential race with 59% of votes-after five prior unsuccessful runs. In concurrent National Assembly elections, his United Party for National Development (UPND) party won a majority; it holds 56% of 165 seats, including appointed ones. U.S. post-poll statements, including from Members of Congress, lauded the electoral process and the peaceful transfer of power to Hichilema by then-President Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) party. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later called Zambia's unshakeable commitment to democratic ideals... an inspiration to all who seek the freedom, prosperity, and justice. He attributed the elections' success, in part, to the participation of a record number of young and first-time voters. (Voter turnout, at 69%, was the highest since 2006.) Opposition activists elsewhere in Africa hailed the outcome as demonstrating that years of dogged opposition activism can result in the democratic ouster of powerful incumbent regimes. Hichilema has pledged to reverse negative human rights and civil liberties trends under Lungu, such as arbitrary detentions of opposition leaders and civil society activists, police repression of peaceful protests and opposition events, and forced closures or suspensions of some media outlets. U.S. officials have welcomed Hichilema's governance agenda and announced development aid in support of it. 2021 General Election Ahead of the 2021 polls, a number of news reports and polling by Afrobarometer (an independent public opinion research network) indicated that Lungu and his PF party would face strong political headwinds. Factors cited included a sharp drop in growth rates, high unemployment and public debt, public service delivery shortcomings, corruption, and growing opposition to the government's alleged use of authoritarian tactics-over which Senate Foreign Relation Committee Chairman Robert Menendez raised concerns in August 2021. A range of analysts, however, speculated that the Lungu government might use its powers of incumbency-including control over state media, the national security apparatus, and public order laws-to enable Lungu and his PF to retain power. Days prior to polling day, the government deployed the military to bolster security and curtail high levels of election violence by rival party supporters after the killing of two PF backers. Some observers saw this move as potentially intimidating to opposition supporters, given an alleged prior pattern of anti-UPND law enforcement actions by police, which had drawn U.S. admonishment. On voting day, authorities restricted social media, with implications for vote results monitoring and reporting transparency, though a court halted that action. After the vote, Lungu- who, citing various bases, had threatened to have his opponent arrested after the election-claimed that the process was not free and fair and reportedly considered challenging the outcome in court. Ultimately, given Hichilema's large margin of victory and reported U.S. and other behind-the-scenes diplomatic pressure, Lungu accepted the results and conceded defeat, permitting a constitutional transfer of power to Hichilema. 2021 Election: Controversies Several controversies preceded the 2021 vote. One centered on Lungu's eligibility for a third term, which the Constitutional Court ruled was legal, given the partial nature of his first term. (He won that term in a 2015 by-election to choose a successor to President Michael Sata, who died in late 2014, and complete Sata's term. In 2016, Lungu won a full term.) The Lungu government also tried-but failed-to pass a wide-ranging constitutional amendment bill. The bill would have broadly expanded executive power and amended presidential election laws in a manner that critics saw as intended to enable Lungu to eke out a narrow win in an anticipated close 2021 race and continue in office with broadened authorities. The opposition also interpreted Electoral Commission (EC) decisions to scrap an existing voter register, rapidly compile a new one in late 2020, and not allow independent auditing of the new registry as favoring Lungu. The new registry significantly expanded the number of voters in historical PF strongholds and decreased in those in pro- UPND areas. The EC also drew criticism for suspending campaigning to dampen election violence and COVID-19 transmission risks. The action allegedly targeted UPND activities primarily, however; critics asserted that PF-affiliated state officials continued to campaign the guise of carrying out official business. H ichilema: Backgroun d and Priorities Hichilema, born in 1962 in a rural southern town, grew up herding cattle. He later earned several higher education degrees, including an MBA, and headed local affiliates of two blue chip accounting and business consulting firms. He also has been a private enterprise promoter and investor active in the finance, health, tourism, and other sectors. Hichilema's political career began in 2006, when he was selected to be the UPND's leader and presidential nominee after the death of UPND founder Anderson Mazoka. Hichilema proved to be a vocal opposition leader and was repeatedly detained or questioned by police, often on arguably dubious grounds after sparring with incumbent governments. Political tensions between the UPND and the PF increased after Lungu's 2016 re-election. In 2017, Hichilema was arrested on treason charges, though the case was later suspended and he was released after mediation by the Commonwealth. Political tensions then decreased for a time, but grew again in 2019 and 2020 in advance of the 2021 polls and over issues such as the government's attempt to amend the constitution (see Textbox above). Hichilema's stated priorities are to promote good governance and economic growth, foster fiscal and debt sustainability, and reduce poverty, notably through efforts

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