View source for Zambian presidential election, 2015

{{Infobox Election
| election_name     = Zambian presidential election, 2015
| country           = Zambia
| type              = presidential
| ongoing           = no
| previous_election = Zambian general election, 2011
| previous_year     = 2011
| next_election     = Zambian general election, 2016
| next_year         = 2016
| election_date     = 20–21 January 2015
| votes_for_election= 5,166,088 registered voters<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.zm/media/20141130_total_counts_-_constituency.pdf |title=2014 Register of Voters | format = PDF  |year= 2014 |website= |publisher=Electoral Commission of Zambia |accessdate=23 January 2015}}</ref>
| needed_votes      = [[First-past-the-post voting|Simple majority]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.zm/media/electoral_acts.pdf |title=Constitution of Zambia | format = PDF  |website= | at = Article 34 (8) |accessdate=23 January 2015}}</ref>
| turnout           = 32.36%
| image1            = [[File:Edgar Lungu January 2015.jpg|103px]]
| nominee1          = [[Edgar Lungu]]
| party1            = Patriotic Front (Zambia)
| popular_vote1     = 807,925
| percentage1       = 48.33%
| image2            = [[File:Hakainde Hichilema 2014.jpg|110px]]
| nominee2          = [[Hakainde Hichilema]]
| party2            = United Party for National Development
| popular_vote2     = 780,168
| percentage2       = 46.67%
| map_image         = Zambian 2015 presidential election winner by province.png
| map_size          = 
| map_caption       = Winner by [[Provinces of Zambia|province]]
| title             = President
| before_election   = [[Guy Scott]] (''acting'')
| before_party      = Patriotic Front (Zambia)
| after_election    = [[Edgar Lungu]]
| after_party       = Patriotic Front (Zambia)
}}

'''Presidential elections''' were held in [[Zambia]] on 20 January 2015 to elect a president to serve the remainder of the term of President [[Michael Sata]], following his death on 28 October 2014.<ref>[http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN0J21PA20141118 Zambia to hold presidential by-election January 20] Reuters, 18 November 2014</ref>

The ruling [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] candidate [[Edgar Lungu]] won by a narrow majority of just 27,757 votes (1.66%) against [[Hakainde Hichilema]] of the [[United Party for National Development]]. Hichilema denounced the elections as a sham and urged his supporters to remain calm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zambia/11367373/Zambia-opposition-cries-foul-as-Lungu-wins-presidential-election.html |title=Zambia opposition cries foul as Lungu wins presidential election |date=24 January 2015 |work= The Daily Telegraph |website= |accessdate=25 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Hichilema">{{cite web |url=http://hh-zambia.com/blog/edgar-lungu-steals-election/ |title=Edgar Lungu steals election |last1=Hichilema |first1=Hakainde |date=24 January 2015 |website=hh-zambia.com |accessdate=25 January 2015}}</ref>

==Background==
Prior to Sata's death, his ill-health led to political commentators speculating about potential Patriotic Front candidates.<ref name=DM>{{cite web | url=http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2014-07-08-unease-and-uncertainty-in-zambia-over-presidents-erratic-behaviour/#.U7wrD_ldXdU | title=Unease and uncertainty in Zambia over President’s erratic behaviour | accessdate=30 October 2014}}</ref> Following his death on 28 October, Vice President [[Guy Scott]] became acting president and became the first non-Arab white head of state on the African continent since Apartheid-era South Africa's F. W. de Klerk.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zambia/11195196/I-am-Africas-first-white-democratic-leader-says-Zambian-vice-president.html | title=I am Africa's first white democratic leader, says Zambian vice-president | date=29 October 2014 | work=The Daily Telegraph | accessdate=30 October 2014}}</ref><ref name ="newstatesman">{{cite web |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/10/zambia-s-new-president-white-and-we-need-get-over-it |title=Zambia’s new president is white – and we need to get over it |last1=Plaut |first1=Martin |date=30 October 2004 |work=New Statesman|website=  |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>

The [[Constitution of Zambia|constitution]] required that elections be held within 90 days of the death of an incumbent president.<ref name=R>{{cite web | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/29/us-zambia-sata-idUSKBN0II06S20141029 | title=Zambia's Scott becomes Africa's first white leader in 20 years | agency=Reuters | accessdate=30 October 2014}}</ref> On 18 November, Scott announced the election date, which also launched the campaigning period.<ref name=Date>{{cite web | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201411181654.html | title=Zambia: Guy Scott Sets Jan. 20 for Presidential By Election | work=Zambia Reports | accessdate=18 November 2014}}</ref>

==Candidates==
On 27 February 2014, the Opposition Alliance was formed to field a common candidate in the [[Zambian general election, 2016|2016 elections]]. The alliance consisted of the [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]] (MMD), the Alliance for Better Zambia, [[Zambians for Empowerment and Development]], the People's Party, and the All People's Congress Party. However, following the death of President Sata and the calling of early elections, however, MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu expressed doubts about whether the alliance would work given the short time period to agree on a candidate.<ref>{{cite web | title=MMD to go it alone in 2015 Presidential by-election | url=http://www.qfmzambia.com/2014/11/07/mmd-to-go-it-alone-in-2015-presidential-by-election | website=QFM Zambia | accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref>

===Patriotic Front===
====Announced====
*[[Selemani Pangula Banda]], Diplomat, former Airforce Captain and former Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.znbc.co.zm/?p=5965 |title=PF begin to receive applications for presidency |date= 18 November 2014|website= |publisher=[[Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation]] |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>
*[[Chishimba Kambwili]], Minister of Sports.<ref name="What Next?">{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201411051666.html|title=Zambia: What Next After Another President Dies in Office?|author=Sishuwa Sishuwa|work=All Africa|accessdate=7 November 2014}}</ref>
*[[Christine Kaseba]], MD, [[gynecologist]], obstretician and widow of President [[Michael Sata]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zambiareports.com/2014/11/19/nine-candidates-compete-pf-presidential-ticket/ |title=Nine Candidates Compete for PF Presidential Ticket |date=19 November 2014 |website= |publisher=Zambia Reports |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>
*[[Edgar Lungu]], lawyer, Minister of Defence and Justice and former Secretary General of PF.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/29/scott-president-interim-zambia-sata-death|title=Guy Scott takes interim role after Zambian president Sata’s death|work=The Guardian|accessdate=30 October 2014}}</ref>
*[[Given Lubinda]], MP, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary General of PF.<ref name=DM/>
*[[Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba]] ("GBM"), businessman, former Minister of Defence.<ref name="What Next?"/>
*[[Miles Sampa]], Commerce Deputy Minister, Matero MP and nephew of Michael Sata.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zambianwatchdog.com/miles-sampa-files-nominations-for-pf-presidency/ |title=Miles Sampa files nominations for PF presidency, challenges Edgar Lungu to prove his popularity |date=14 November 2014 |website= |publisher=Zambian Watchdog |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>
*[[Robert Sichinga]], Commerce Minister.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zambiareports.com/2014/11/19/kasebas-decision-run-causes-rift-sata-family/ |title=Kaseba’s Decision to Run Causes Rift in Sata Family |date=19 November 2014 |website= |publisher=Zambia Reports |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>
*[[Wylbur Simuusa]], Minister of Agriculture

====Withdrawn====
*[[Mulenga Sata]], son of Michael Sata and Mayor of [[Lusaka]].<ref name=DM/><ref>{{cite news |last=GELOO |first=ZARINA |date=26 November 2014 |title=Sata's son quits race for Zambian presidency |url=http://mg.co.za/article/2014-11-26-satas-son-quits-race-for-zambian-presidency |newspaper=Mail & Guardian |access-date= 26 January 2015}}</ref>

Vice President Scott, who was serving as acting president following Sata's death, announced that he would not contest the elections, claiming he was constitutionally barred from doing so.<ref name ="newstatesman"/> However, although the constitution restricts candidacy to at least third generation Zambians,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29816559|title=Guy Scott's rise to Zambia's presidency|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=30 October 2014}}</ref> the Zambian Supreme Court ruled in ''[[Lewanika and Others vs. Chiluba]]'' that this is not relevant to citizens born before independence in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/10/29/another-zambian-president-dies-in-office-what-happens-now/|title=Another Zambian president dies in office. What happens now?|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=30 October 2014}}</ref>

====Selection====
At a General Conference at [[Mulungushi Rock of Authority]] during the weekend of 29–30 November Edgar Lungu was selected as the party president and presidential candidate by default, as none of the other candidates were present. However, as the meeting did not follow procedure and included unauthorised delegates, party president Scott called the elections "null and void" and chaired an alternative General Conference at [[Mulungushi University]] on 1 December, which saw Miles Sampa chosen as the party's presidential candidate with an overwhelming majority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zambiareports.com/2014/12/02/miles-sampa-wins-disputed-pf-general-conference/ |title=Miles Sampa Wins Disputed PF General Conference |last1=Mwenya |first1=George |date=2 December 2014 |website= |publisher=Zambia Reports |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref> The Lungu faction had previously obtained an injunction from the [[High Court (Zambia)|High Court]] against this Conference and denied the legitimacy of Sampa's selection. Three candidates&mdash;Kambwili, Simuusa and Lubinda&mdash;withdrew from the Conference before the vote, citing distrust of the legitimacy of the delegates present and a wish not to divide the party.

===Movement for Multi-Party Democracy===
[[File:Rupiah Banda.jpg|thumb|Former President Rupiah Banda]]
*[[Rupiah Banda]], former President of Zambia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Messy-struggle-for-Zambian-presidency-under-way-20141029|title=Messy struggle for Zambian presidency under way|work=News 24|accessdate=7 November 2014}}</ref>
*[[Nevers Mumba]], [[Minister minister and former televangelist, MMD President.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201411070882.html|title=Zambia: MMD Opens Search for Presidential Candidate As Nevers Declares Readiness|work=Zambia Reports|accessdate=7 November 2014}}</ref>

As president of the MMD, Mumba declared himself the party's candidate for the presidency. However, following former President Banda's interest in seeking the presidency, the MMD National Executive Committee, 38 of the 55 members being present, unanimously voted to suspend Mumba from the party presidency and adopt Banda as its presidential candidate.<ref name="Nevers Mumba Suspended">{{cite news|last1=Malambo|first1=Clement|title=Zambia: Nevers Mumba Suspended From MMD - RB Adopted As Candidate|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201411190802.html|accessdate=25 December 2014|work=All Africa|publisher=Zambia Reports|date=18 November 2014}}</ref>  Following this meeting on 18 November 2014, MMD national secretary [[Muhabi Lungu]] stated that Mumba had disregarded party organs, namely the NEC, and committed gross misconduct. Mumba contested this decision, stating that he was the legitimately elected leader of the party and was not elected to keep the seat warm for President Banda's future candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Mumba suspended|url=http://zambiadailynation.com/2014/11/19/nevers-mumba-suspended/|accessdate=25 December 2014|work=Daily Nation|date=19 November 2014}}</ref>

Mumba sought an injunction against Lungu, seeking to restrain Lungu from interfering with the running of Mumba's office and functions of the party president. On 11 December the Lusaka High Court dismissed an interim injunction granted to Mumba on 25 November, with High Court Judge [[Chalwe Mchenga]] stating that Mumba failed to specify what Lungu should be precluded from doing and that Lungu cannot be held responsible for failing to comply with an unclear injunction.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 December 2014 |title=Nevers Mumba loses High Court case, RB to be on MMD ticket |url=http://www.lusakatimes.com/2014/12/10/nevers-mumba-loses-high-court-case-rb-mmd-ticket/ |newspaper= [[Lusaka Times]] |access-date= 26 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mmdzambia.org/miscellaneous/2014/12/11/nevers-mumba-versus-muhabi-lungu-injunction-ruling/ |title=Nevers Mumba Versus Muhabi Lungu Injunction Ruling |date=11 December 2014 |website= |publisher= [[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]]|accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>

On appeal, the Supreme Court reversed and ruled on 18 December that the official candidate for the MMD was Nevers Mumba. In an opinion read by Supreme Court Justice [[Mumba Malila]], the Court reasoned that Judge Mchenga erred when ruling and failed to consider evidence submitted to the Court by Mumba that sufficiently showed the parameters of the injunction that the High Court had stated were unclear.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Mumba is the official MMD Presidential candidate-Supreme Court|url=http://www.lusakatimes.com/2014/12/18/nevers-mumba-official-mmd-presidential-candidate-supreme-court/|accessdate=25 December 2014|work=Lusaka Times|date=18 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Funga|first1=Mukosha|title=Court confirms Nevers as MMD candidate|url=http://www.postzambia.com/news.php?id=4639|accessdate=25 December 2014|work=The Post}}</ref> A week later, Banda released a statement in which he thanked his supporters, but told them to respect the Supreme Court's decision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Banda retreats from presidential race|url=http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Banda-retreats-from-presidential-race-20141224|website=News24|publisher=SAPA|accessdate=25 December 2014|date=24 December 2014}}</ref> Mumba subsequently expelled Muhabi Lungu and vice secretary [[Chembe Nyangu]] from their positions for insubordination.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 December 2014 |title=Nevers Mumba expells Muhabi Lungu and his vice Chembe Nyangu |url=http://www.lusakatimes.com/2014/12/19/nevers-mumba-expells-muhabi-lungu-vice-chembe-nyangu/ |newspaper= Lusaka Times |access-date=26 January 2015 }}</ref>

===United Party for National Development===
The UPND's National Management Committee unanimously agreed to field party leader and prior presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema on 14 November 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=UPND adopts Hakainde Hichilema for the 2015 Zambian presidential by election|url=http://www.mwebantu.com/2014/11/14/upnd-adopts-hakainde-hichilema-for-the-2015-zambian-presidential-by-election/|website=Mwebantu|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref>  Hichilema also received the support of [[Charles Milupi]] and the [[Alliance for Democracy and Development (Zambia)|Alliance for Democracy and Development]] on 25 November.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chanda |first=Davies M.M  |title=ADD RALLIES BEHIND UPND |url=http://www.times.co.zm/?p=43566 |newspaper=[[Times of Zambia]] |access-date=26 January 2015 }}</ref>

===Minor party candidates===
*[[Tilyenji Kaunda]] ([[United National Independence Party]]), son to the former President [[Kenneth Kaunda]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zambianeye.com/archives/25727 |title=No alliance, I’m contesting – Tilyenji Kaunda |date=24 November 2014 |website= |publisher=Zambian Eye |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>
*[[Godfrey Miyanda]] ([[Heritage Party (Zambia)|Heritage Party]]), retired [[Major General]], former Vice President.<ref>{{cite web|last1=News Desk|title=Gen. Miyanda launches his campaigns in Mongu|url=http://zambianeye.com/archives/25867|website=Zambian Eye|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref>
*[[Edith Nawakwi]] ([[Forum for Democracy and Development]]), former Energy and Finance Minister.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lumba|first1=Hildah|title=Race To State House|url=http://www.times.co.zm/?p=43186|website=Times of Zambia|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref>
*[[Peter Sinkamba]] (Green Party of Zambia)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chazingwa|first1=Moffat|last2=Shabongo|first2=Nakubiana|last3=Zulu|first3=Delphine|title=Nevers, HH, Sinkamba Eye Top Job|url=http://www.times.co.zm/?p=42609|website=Zambian Times|accessdate=28 November 2014}}</ref>
*[[Daniel Pule]] (Christian Democratic Party), Church Apostle, former Deputy Minister.
*[[Elias Chipimo Jr]] ([[National Restoration Party (Zambia)|National Restoration Party]]), former Corporate Lawyer.
*[[Ludwig Sondashi]] (Forum for Democratic Alternatives), former Works and Supply Minister.

==Results==
Lungu won by a narrow majority of just 27,757 votes (1.66%). Hichilema denounced the elections as a sham and urged his supporters to remain calm and prepare for the next general elections in 2016.<ref name="Hichilema"/> 

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
!colspan=2|Candidate
!Party
!Votes
!%
|-
| style="background-color:#3063AE"|
|align=left|[[Edgar Lungu]]||align=left|[[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]]||807,925||48.33
|-
| style="background-color:#FFF500"|
|align=left|[[Hakainde Hichilema]]||align=left|[[United Party for National Development]]||780,168||46.67
|-
| style="background-color:#165D25"|
|align=left|[[Edith Nawakwi]]||align=left|[[Forum for Democracy and Development]]||15,321||0.92
|-
| style="background-color:#3BADF3"|
|align=left|[[Nevers Mumba]]||align=left|[[Movement for Multi-Party Democracy]]||14,609||0.87
|-
| style="background-color:#C94E47"|
|align=left|[[Tilyenji Kaunda]]||align=left|[[United National Independence Party]]||9,737||0.58
|-
| style="background-color:#FF8C00"|
|align=left|Eric Chanda||align=left|Fourth Revolution Party||8,054||0.48
|-
|style="background-color:#008000"|
|align=left|[[Elias Chipimo Jr]]||align=left|[[National Restoration Party (Zambia)|National Restoration Party]]||6,002||0.36
|-
| style="background-color:"|
|align=left|[[Godfrey Miyanda]]||align=left|[[Heritage Party (Zambia)|Heritage Party]]||5,757||0.34
|-
| style="background-color:#000000"|
|align=left|[[Daniel Pule]]||align=left|Christian Democratic Party||3,293||0.20
|-
| style="background-color:"|
|align=left|[[Ludwig Sondashi]]||align=left|Forum for Democratic Alternatives||2,073||0.12
|-
| style="background-color:#008000"|
|align=left|[[Peter Sinkamba]] || align=left|Green Party of Zambia|| 1,410 || 0.08
|-
|align=left colspan=3|Invalid/blank votes|| 17,313 ||–
|-
|align=left colspan=3|'''Total'''||'''1,671,662'''||'''100'''
|-
|align=left colspan=3|Registered voters/turnout||  5,166,084  || 32.36
|-
|align=left colspan=5|Source: [http://www.elections.org.zm/results/2015_presidential_election Electoral Commission of Zambia]
|}

Four votes appear to be unaccounted for. The final results released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia on its website indicate the total registered voters as 5,166,084,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.zm/results/2015_presidential_election |title=2015 Presidential Election results |date=24 January 2015 |website=elections.org.zm |publisher=Electoral Commission of Zambia |accessdate=25 January 2015}}</ref> as opposed to 5,166,088 previously published in the Certified Register of Voters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.org.zm/register_statistics.php |title=Certified Register of Voters as at 2014 |date=30 November 2014 |website=elections.org.zm |publisher=Electoral Commission of Zambia |accessdate=25 January 2015}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
[[File:Inauguration of Edgar Lungu.jpg|thumb|A cross section of the crowd at the [[President Edgar Lungu’s inauguration ceremony, 25 January 2015|inauguration ceremony]].]]

Lungu was inaugurated as the sixth President on 25 January 2015 at the [[National Heroes Stadium]] in the capital Lusaka. Zimbabwean President [[Robert Mugabe]] attended swearing in ceremony in his capacity as the Chairman of the [[Southern African Development Community]].<ref name ="NYT">{{cite news |date=25 January 2015 |title=Zambia’s New President, Edgar Lungu, Is Sworn In |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/world/africa/zambias-new-president-edgar-lungu-is-sworn-in.html?_r=0 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=27 January 2015 }}</ref> [[Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma]], the [[Chairperson of the African Union Commission]] congratulated the Zambian people on the successful elections.<ref name ="NYT"/>

==See also==
*[[President Edgar Lungu’s inauguration ceremony, 25 January 2015]]
*[[President Edgar Lungu’s inauguration Speech, 25 January 2015]]
*[[Edgar Lungu]]
*[[Michael Sata]]
*[[Patriotic Front]]
*[[Guy Scott]]
*[[Hakainde Hichilema]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.835368303191272.1073742005.322302104497897&type=3 Dr Scott casts his vote], Zambian State House
*[http://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/01/20/zambia-votes-pictures/ Zambia Votes in Pictures], ''Lusaka Times''

{{Zambian elections}}

[[Category:2015 in Zambia]]
[[Category:Elections in Zambia]]