Zambia

Electoral competition is significantly skewed in favor of the governing authority, to the point where the real, mainstream political opposition has a highly unlikely, although realistic chance to win. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) dominated the first two decades of multi-party democracy before being unseated by the Patriotic Front (PF), which then reigned over the next decade. In 2021, the United Party for National Development (UPND) won the presidency and secured a majority in the national assembly for the first time after two decades of contesting for power. However, since taking office, the UPND regime has unfairly skewed the electoral playing field in its favor by systematically blocking opposition rallies, using the judiciary to attempt to disqualify opposition leaders from the next presidential vote, and undermining independent electoral oversight.

Independent media, political leaders, civil society leaders, and members of the general public are seriously and unfairly hindered in their ability to openly criticize or challenge the regime. The Zambian regime intimidates political opposition leaders and independent journalists through a pattern of arrests. Non-state actors with ties to the ruling party contribute to this intimidation and unfairly repress dissenting protests through disruptions, intimidation, and violence. Despite taking steps to repeal or partially amend some repressive and vague legislation, the regime continues to wield them against critics.

Institutions are somewhat independent but frequently constrained by the regime. The regime has undermined the independence of institutions, constitutional checks and balances, and the separation of powers in a manner that enables it to repress criticism and undermine electoral competition. President Hichilema has abused the powers granted to the president by the constitution in the appointment and dismissal of judges, altering the composition of the bench to secure favorable court decisions on electoral matters.