United Party for National Development

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United Party for National Development
PresidentHakainde Hichilema
Founded1998
IdeologyLiberalism,
Social liberalism
Political positionCentre
International affiliationLiberal International
(observer)
Continental affiliationAfrica Liberal Network
National Assembly
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The United Party for National Development (UPND) is a liberal political party in Zambia, led by Hakainde Hichilema. The party is an observer member of Liberal International.[1]

History

The UPND was established in December 1998 and was initially led by Anderson Mazoka, who had left the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) shortly beforehand.[2] Mazoka was the party's presidential candidate for the 2001 general elections, finishing second with 27% of the vote, less than 2% behind the winner Levy Mwanawasa of the MMD. In the National Assembly elections the UPND won 49 seats, becoming the second largest party after the MMD.

In March 2006 the party joined the United Democratic Alliance, formed by the three largest opposition parties to contest that year's general elections. After the death of Mazoka in May 2006, Hakainde Hichilema became party leader, and was the alliance's presidential candidate. However, he finished third behind Mwanawasa and Michael Sata with 25% of the vote. The UDA won only 26 seats in the National Assembly, down from the 74 the three parties had won in 2001.

Hichilema was the UPND candidate for the 2008 presidential by-election, finishing third with 20% of the vote. He finished third again in the 2011 general elections with 18% of the vote, whilst the UPND won 28 seats in the National Assembly, becoming the third-largest party.

Hichilema was selected as the party's candidate for the 2015 presidential by-election. Hichilema become the main opponent to the Patriotic Front candidate Edgar Lungu after receiving the backing of several MMD MPs. Although Hichilema received 47% of the vote, Lungu was elected with 48%.

Zambian general election, 2016

The United Party for National Development took part in the 2016 general election for both National Assembly and presidential election. The party took all the sit in Southern Province of Zambia as the leader and president Hakainde Hichilema could not beat president elect Edgar Lungu in the presidential race.

Reactions

The United Party for National Development critisized the electoral commission for participating in fraud as they significantly delayed the announcement of the results. Claiming that the slow counting of the votes is unexplained.

Election officials denied this, saying the slow publication of the results was because there were five different votes on Thursday - for president, parliament, mayors, local councillors and an amendment to the constitution on changes to the bill of rights.[3]

References

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  1. United Party for National Development Liberal International
  2. Tom Lansford (2014) Political Handbook of the World 2014, CQ Press, p1615
  3. Zambia elections: Opposition UPND alleges fraud, BBC, 15 August 2016