Zambia's National Assembly Dissolves as President Hichilema Sets the Stage for August Election

Zambia's 13th National Assembly dissolved at midnight on 15 May, triggering a 90-day countdown to the general election on 13 August and shifting the country fully into electoral mode. Under Article 81(3) of the Constitution, parliamentary and local government nominations will open on 18–19 May.

In his final Cabinet meeting before dissolution, President Hakainde Hichilema set out the foundations of the UPND's case for re-election. He pointed to free education now reaching over 2.5 million children, the Constituency Development Fund rising from K1.6 million to K40 million per constituency, the recruitment of more than 45,000 teachers, and the restoration of operations at Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines as evidence of his administration's economic recovery.

The President acknowledged ongoing challenges, including rising living costs and youth unemployment, but urged voters to allow ongoing reforms to mature. He linked progress on the economy directly to the peace and stability restored since 2021, which he said had unlocked an estimated US$12 billion in mining investment and helped reduce annual debt service from US$2.3 billion to roughly US$900 million.

These claims were reinforced this week by the IMF, which reported gross international reserves of US$6.4 billion, inflation down to 6.8 per cent in April, and a primary fiscal surplus of 3.1 per cent of GDP in 2025. The Fund cautioned, however, that pre-election spending pressures and global oil volatility could narrow the surplus to 1.1 per cent without corrective measures.

A K26.3 billion supplementary budget has been approved to maintain government operations through the campaign period.