Zambian general election, 1968
General elections were held in Zambia on 19 December 1968 to elect the National Assembly and President. The first post-independence polls saw incumbent Kenneth Kaunda retain his post as president, whilst his United National Independence Party, the only party to field candidates in all 105 constituencies,[1] won 81 of the 105 seats in the National Assembly. Voter turnout was 82.5% in the parliamentary election,[2] but 87.1% in the presidential election.[3]
The only other contestants in the National Assembly elections were the Zambian African National Congress (73 candidates), and three independents.[1] The United Party, which had been established in 1966, was banned in 1968, with many of its members absorbed by the ZANC.[4] The election campaign was marred by violence, with UNIP members in Northern and Luapula Provinces blocking ZANC candidates from lodging nomination papers, resulting in 30 UNIP candidates running unopposed.[4] Nevertheless, the election saw a swing towards the ZANC and four ministers losing their seats.[1]
Results
President
Party | Votes | % | Seats |
---|---|---|---|
Kenneth Kaunda | United National Independence Party | 1,079,970 | 81.8 |
Harry Nkumbula | Zambian African National Congress | 240,017 | 18.2 |
Invalid/blank votes | 63,490 | − | |
Total | 1,383,477 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 1,587,966 | 87.1 | |
Source: Nohlen et al. |
National Assembly
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
---|---|---|---|---|
United National Independence Party | 657,764 | 73.2 | 81 | +26 |
Zambian African National Congress | 228,277 | 25.4 | 23 | +13 |
Independents | 12,619 | 1.4 | 1 | +1 |
Presidential appointees | − | − | 5 | New |
Invalid/blank votes | 63,490 | − | − | − |
Total | 962,150 | 100 | 110 | +35 |
Registered voters/turnout | 1,166,637 | 82.5 | − | − |
Source: African Elections Database |
References
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Zambia 1968 Inter-Parliamentary Union
- ↑ Elections in Zambia African Elections Database
- ↑ Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p953 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Zambia: 1968 Elections EISA