1991 Zambian general election

General elections were held in Zambia on 31 October 1991 to elect a President and National Assembly. They were the first multi-party elections since 1968, and only the second multi-party elections since independence in 1964. The United National Independence Party (UNIP), which had led the country since independence (from 1973 to 1990 as the sole legal party), was comprehensively beaten by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). Kenneth Kaunda, who had been president since independence, was defeated in a landslide by MMD challenger Frederick Chiluba in the presidential elections, whilst the MMD won 125 of the 150 elected seats in the expanded National Assembly. Voter turnout was 45%.^[1]

1991 Zambian general election

← 1988 31 October 1991 1996 →
Turnout	45.27%
Nominee Frederick Chiluba Kenneth Kaunda Party MMD UNIP Popular vote 972,605 311,022 Percentage 75.77% 24.23%
President before election Kenneth Kaunda UNIP Elected President Frederick Chiluba MMD

Background

In 1973, Kaunda had declared UNIP the only legally permitted party in Zambia. From then until 1990, the government and UNIP were effectively one. Every five years, Kaunda was automatically elected to a five-year term as president by virtue of being leader of UNIP. Voters also chose between three UNIP candidates for each of the 125 seats in the National Assembly.

However, by the summer of 1990 discontent had built to a fever pitch. In July, following three days of riots in Lusaka, Kaunda announced a referendum on the single-party system would be held in October. This was not enough to prevent disgruntled army officer Mwamba Luchembe from launching a coup attempt within a few hours of the announcement. However, it was broken after about three to four hours.^[2] After the coup attempt, the opposition contended that the original date for the referendum did not allow enough time to register voters. In response, Kaunda delayed the referendum until August 1991.^[3]

Kaunda had vehemently opposed a multiparty system, claiming it would cause violence and inflame tribal divisions. However, in response to demands from the opposition, he cancelled the referendum in September and instead gave his support to constitutional amendments that would end UNIP's monopoly on power. He also announced that the general elections scheduled for 1993 would be brought forward to 1991.^[4] Kaunda signed the necessary amendments into law in December. Soon afterward, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, a pressure group created earlier in the year under the leadership of Zambia Congress of Trade Unions chairman Chiluba, registered as a political party.^[5]

Results

President

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Frederick Chiluba	Movement for Multi-Party Democracy	972,605	75.77
	Kenneth Kaunda	United National Independence Party	311,022	24.23
Total			1,283,627	100.00
Valid votes			1,283,627	96.87
Invalid/blank votes			41,531	3.13
Total votes			1,325,158	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,924,505	45.31
Source: ECZ

National Assembly

See also: 1991 Zambian general election by constituency

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Movement for Multi-Party Democracy	931,945	74.01	125	New
	United National Independence Party	314,711	24.99	25	–100
	National Democratic Alliance	1,695	0.13	0	New
	National Democratic Party	803	0.06	0	New
	Democratic Party	120	0.01	0	New
	Independents	9,862	0.78	0	New
Presidential appointees				8	–2
Appointed Speaker				1	0
Total		1,259,136	100.00	159	+23
Valid votes		1,259,136	96.42
Invalid/blank votes		46,787	3.58
Total votes		1,305,923	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		2,875,960	45.41
Source: EISA

See also

• List of members of the National Assembly of Zambia (1991–96)

References

1. Zambia: 1991 National Assembly national election results EISA
2. Failed Zambia Coup Weakens Leader New York Times, 1 July 1990
3. Zambia's Leader Announces Plan to Free 1,000 Prisoners New York Times, 26 July 1990
4. Zambia Leader Assents To Multiparty Vote New York Times, 25 September 1990
5. After 17 Years, Zambia Allows Opposition New York Times, 18 December 1990