Zambia

Electoral Act, 1991

Chapter 13

Legislation as at 31 December 1996

Note: Act repealed on 2006-05-19 by Electoral Act, 2006 (Act 12 of 2006).

Note: There are outstanding amendments that have not yet been applied:
Act 4 of 2001.

There may have been updates since this file was created.

PDF created on 10 June 2025 at 08:43.

Collection last checked for updates: 31 December 1996.

View online

About this collection

The legislation in this collection has been reproduced as it was originally printed in the Government Gazette, with
improved formatting and with minor typographical errors corrected. All amendments have been applied directly to
the text and annotated. A scan of the original gazette of each piece of legislation (including amendments) is available
for reference.

www.laws.africa
info@laws.africa

FRBR URI: /akn/zm/act/1991/2/eng@1996-12-31

There is no copyright on the legislative content of this document.

This PDF copy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0). Share widely and freely.

i
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13)
Contents
Part I – Preliminary ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 1

1. Short title .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

2. Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Part II – Registration and voting in direct elections .............................................................................................................................. 3

3. Qualifications for registration of voters .......................................................................................................................................... 3

4. Disqualifications from registration of voters ................................................................................................................................. 3

5. Registration in a constituency ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

6. Qualifications for voting ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3

7. Disqualifications from voting ............................................................................................................................................................... 4

Part III – Presidential elections ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4

8. Election to office of President ............................................................................................................................................................ 4

9. Nomination of presidential candidate ............................................................................................................................................. 4

Part IV – National Assembly elections ........................................................................................................................................................ 5

10. Additional disqualifications for election to National Assembly ........................................................................................... 5

11. Election fee .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

Part V – Electoral Commission and regulation of elections ................................................................................................................ 5

12. Electoral Commission ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5

13. Independence of Electoral Commission ........................................................................................................................................ 5

14. Supervision by Commission ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

15. Appointment, remuneration and functions of election officers ........................................................................................... 6

16. Power of Commission to require information and issue instructions ................................................................................ 6

17. Regulatory powers of Commission .................................................................................................................................................. 6

Part VI – Election petitions in respect of Parliamentary elections ................................................................................................... 8

18. Avoidance of elections ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8

19. Who may present election petitions .............................................................................................................................................. 9

20. Relief which may be claimed in election petition .................................................................................................................... 9

21. Form and procedure for presentation of election petitions ................................................................................................ 10

22. Duty of Registrar to make out list of election petitions ...................................................................................................... 10

23. Rules of practice and procedure, security for costs ............................................................................................................... 11

24. Withdrawal of election petitions .................................................................................................................................................. 11

25. Substitution of new petitioners ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

26. Abatement of election petitions ................................................................................................................................................... 12

27. Trial of election petitions ................................................................................................................................................................. 12

28. Provisions as to witnesses ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

ii
 29. Conclusion of trial election petition ............................................................................................................................................ 13

30. Provisions as to costs ........................................................................................................................................................................ 14

Part VII – Other questions relating to Parliament ............................................................................................................................... 14

31. Applications to members and officers of Parliament ............................................................................................................ 14

32. Effect of determination ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Part VIII – Miscellaneous and repeals and transitional ...................................................................................................................... 15

33. *** .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15

34. When incapacity may be removed ............................................................................................................................................... 15

35. No person required to state how he voted ............................................................................................................................... 15

36. Evidence as to holding of election .............................................................................................................................................. 15

37. Validation of certain documents .................................................................................................................................................... 16

38. Repeals and saving ............................................................................................................................................................................ 16

39. *** .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16

40. *** .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Schedule (Section 9) ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

iii
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

Zambia

Electoral Act, 1991

Chapter 13
Published

Commenced on 30 August 1991

[This is the version of this document as it was at 31 December 1996 to 26 January 2001.]

[The commencement date of the Act which repeals this Act is unknown. We used
the repealing Act's publication date as the date on which this Act was repealed.]

[This legislation has been revised and consolidated by the Ministry of Legal Affairs of the
Government of the Republic of Zambia. This version is up-to-date as at 31st December 1996.
All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for ZAMBIALII.]

[Repealed on 19 May 2006 by Electoral Act, 2006 (Act 12 of 2006)]

[Act No. 2 of 1991; 13 of 1994; 7 of 1995; 23 of 1996]

An Act to make provision relating to elections to the office of President; to elections to the National
Assembly; to empower the Electoral Commission to make regulations providing for the registration of
voters and for the manner of conducting elections; to provide for offences and penalties in connection
with elections; to make provision with respect to election petitions and the hearing and determination
of applications relating to Parliament; to repeal the Electoral Act 1973; and to provide for matters
incidental to or connected with the foregoing.

Part I – Preliminary

1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Electoral Act.

2. Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

"candidate" means any person nominated as a candidate for election;

"Commission" means an Electoral Commission established under the Constitution;

[Cap. 1]

"constituency" means any of the constituencies into which Zambia is divided under the
Constitution;

[Cap. 1]

"the Constitution" means the Constitution set out in the Schedule to the Constitution of Zambia
Act;

[Cap. 1]

"corrupt practice" means any offence against this Act which is declared under this Act to be a
corrupt practice;

"costs" includes charges and expenses;

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 1
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

"direct election" means an election to the office of President, or an election for a member of the
National Assembly;

"Director of Elections" means the person for the time being holding or acting in the public office
of Director of Elections;

"election" means, a direct election and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

"election officer" has the meaning assigned thereto in subsection (6) of section fifteen;

"election petition" means an election petition referred to in section eighteen;

"high judicial office" has the meaning assigned to it in the Constitution;

[Cap. 1]

"illegal practice" means any offence against this Act which is declared under this Act to be an
illegal practice;

"member" means an elected member of the National Assembly;

"petitioner" means, in relation to an election petition, any person referred to in section nineteen
who signs and presents such election petition under section twenty, and includes any person
substituted for a petitioner under section twenty-five or section twenty-six;

"political party" means an organisation registered under the Societies Act the objects of which
include any political activity or the sponsoring of candidates for election to the office of President
or as a member of the National Assembly;

[Cap. 119]

"register of voters" means a register of voters for any constituency, or part of a constituency,
prepared and maintained, or deemed to be prepared and maintained under this Act;

"registered" means registered in a register of voters under this Act, and "registration" shall be
construed accordingly;

"Registrar" means the Registrar of the High Court;

"respondent" has the meaning assigned thereto in subsection (4) of section twenty-one;

"returning officer" in relation to the election of a President, means the returning officer specified
in the Constitution;

[Cap. 1]

"voter" means a person who is entitled to vote at the relevant election.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, the expression "election expenses" means expenses incurred, whether
before, during or after an election, on account of or in respect of the conduct or management of
such election by or on behalf of a candidate:

Provided that the following expenses shall not be deemed to be election expenses:

(a) any moneys expended or expenses incurred by any association or group of persons or by any
person in the general interests of a political party or organisation or its candidates generally,
not being moneys expended or expenses incurred directly in the particular interests of
any particular candidate or expenditure incurred by a political party with the consent of a
candidate and apportioned to such candidate under this Act; or

(b) any moneys expended or expenses incurred by any political party or organisation in
the printing, publication or distribution of the official organ of that political party or
organisation; or

(c) any election fee.

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 2
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

Part II – Registration and voting in direct elections

3. Qualifications for registration of voters

Subject to the provision of section four, every person shall be qualified for registration as a voter in direct
elections who—

(a) is a citizen of Zambia; and

(b) has attained the age of eighteen years.

4. Disqualifications from registration of voters

(1) No person shall be qualified for registration as a voter in direct elections, and no person shall be
registered as such a voter, who—

(a) is under a declaration of allegiance to some country other than Zambia;

(b) under any law in force in Zambia, is adjudged or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind,
or is detained under the Criminal Procedure Code during the pleasure of the President;

[Cap. 88]

(c) is under sentence of death imposed on him by any court in Zambia, or a sentence of
imprisonment (by whatever name called) imposed on him by such a court or substituted by
competent authority for some other sentence imposed on him by such a court; or

(d) is not in possession of a national registration card issued to him under the National
Registration Act.

[Cap. 126]

(2) In this section, the reference to a sentence of imprisonment shall be construed as not including
a sentence of imprisonment the execution of which is suspended or a sentence of imprisonment
imposed in default of payment of a fine.

5. Registration in a constituency
A person qualified for registration as a voter shall, on application in accordance with regulations made
by the Commission, be registered as a voter in the register of voters for a constituency in which he is
ordinarily resident.

6. Qualifications for voting

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section and of section seven, every person who is registered in
a register of voters for a constituency shall be entitled to vote at a direct election held in that
constituency.

(2) Every person shall, whenever he wishes to vote at a direct election, identify himself to an election
officer in such manner as may be prescribed, and no person shall be entitled to vote more than once
in the same such election.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that where an election to which this Act applies
is held at the same time and place as any other such election, and whether or not the same ballot
paper is authorised by the Commission for use in more than one such election, each such election
remains a separate election.

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 3
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

7. Disqualifications from voting

No person shall be entitled to vote at a direct election who—

(a) has been convicted of any corrupt practice or illegal practice within a period of five years preceding
that election;

(b) has been reported guilty of any corrupt practice or illegal practice by the High Court upon the trial
of an election petition under this Act within a period of five years preceding that election; or

(c) at the date of the election is in lawful custody or if his freedom of movement is restricted under any
law in force in Zambia.

Part III – Presidential elections

8. Election to office of President

The election to the office of President shall be held in every constituency in Zambia.

9. Nomination of presidential candidate

(1) A candidate for election as President shall, on such day, at such time and at such place as may be
determined by the Commission, deliver to the Returning Officer—

(a) the candidate's nomination paper;

(b) the prescribed election fee:

(c) the prescribed statutory declaration of the candidate's assets and liabilities; and

(d) an oath or affirmation, as set out in the Schedule, of the candidate's Zambian citizenship and
that the candidate's parents are Zambian citizens by birth or descent:

Provided that—

(i) subject to sub-paragraph (ii), the contents of such documents referred to in this
section shall be accepted prima facie, by the Returning Officer, as complying with the
law as to qualification for election as President;

(ii) notwithstanding sub-paragraph (i) if the Returning Officer is satisfied that clause
(5) (a) or (c) of Article 34 or clause (2) of Article 35 of the Constitution has not been
complied with, he shall immediately reject the nomination of such candidate.

(2) The nomination paper shall be signed by not less than two hundred registered voters.

(3) Any question, by any person, which may arise as to whether any provision of the Constitution or
any law relating to nomination or election of President has been complied with shall be referred
by the Returning Officer or by such person to the full bench of the Supreme Court within 14 days
of the person elected as President being sworn in, in accordance with clause 9 of Article 34 of the
Constitution.

(4) A person who swears or affirms falsely under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be
liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term of seven years without the option of a fine.

[As amended by Act No. 23 of 1996]

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 4
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

Part IV – National Assembly elections

10. Additional disqualifications for election to National Assembly

In addition to the persons disqualified by the Constitution—

(a) an election officer shall not be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly;

(b) any person who is convicted of any corrupt practice or illegal practice or who is reported guilty of
any corrupt practice or illegal practice by the High Court upon the trial of an election petition under
this Act shall not be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly for a period of five
years from the date of such conviction or of such report, as the case may be.

11. Election fee

The election fee for candidates for election to the National Assembly shall be such fee as may be
prescribed under this Act.

Part V – Electoral Commission and regulation of elections

12. Electoral Commission

(1) An Electoral Commission established under Article eight of the Constitution shall consist of a
Chairman and two other members, who shall be appointed by the President.

Provided that, where an Electoral Commission is established solely for the purpose of a by-
election for a member of the National Assembly, the Electoral Commission may consist of a
single Commissioner who may exercise all the powers of the Electoral Commission relating to the
direction and supervision of that election other than the power to make or alter regulations.

[Cap. 1]

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Chairman of a Commission or as a Commissioner
—

(a) unless he holds or has held high judicial office;

(b) if he is a member of, or nominated as a candidate for election to the National Assembly.

(3) If, after the appointment of a Commission and before the Commission stands dissolved, the office
of Chairman or any member of the Commission falls vacant or the holder of the office becomes
unable for any reason to discharge his functions as a member of the Commission, the President
may appoint another person qualified for appointment to be the Chairman or a member of the
Commission, as the case may be.

(4) A Commission established for the purposes of Article eightyone of the Constitution shall stand
dissolved upon such date as the President may determine, and a Commission established for any
other purpose shall stand dissolved on such date (not being earlier, in the case of a Commission
established upon a dissolution of Parliament, than the date upon which Parliament first sits after
that dissolution) as the President may determine.

[Cap. 1]

13. Independence of Electoral Commission

In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution, a Commission shall not be subject to the direction
or control of any other person or authority.

[Cap. 1]

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 5
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

14. Supervision by Commission

The registration of voters and the conduct of every election shall be subject to the direction and
supervision of the Commission.

15. Appointment, remuneration and functions of election officers

(1) In respect of any election, the Commission shall have power to appoint for any constituency or
province such election officers as it may deem necessary for the purposes of such election, and
any election officer may exercise his functions in respect of the whole or part of a constituency or
province or in respect of more than one constituency as prescribed by the Commission.

(2) In respect of any election, the election officer may, subject to the general or special directions of the
Commission, appoint any fit person to assist him in the exercise of his functions under this Act, and
may, at any time, revoke such appointment.

(3) Every election officer shall, before exercising any of the functions of his office, take and subscribe
such oath, or make such affirmation in lieu thereof, as the Commission may prescribe.

(4) The Commission may, at any time, revoke the appointment of an election officer.

(5) Every election officer shall be paid such remuneration and allowances in respect of his duties as the
Commission may determine.

(6) In this section "election officer" means a person appointed by the Commission to be—

(a) a registration officer;

(b) an assistant registration officer;

(c) an electoral officer;

(d) a returning officer;

(e) a presiding officer;

(f) a polling assistant;

(g) a counting assistant;

and includes any person appointed to assist an election officer under subsection (2); and, where
functions are conferred on the Director of Elections under this Act in respect of any election,
includes the Director of Elections.

16. Power of Commission to require information and issue instructions

The Commission may—

(a) require from any election officer such information and returns as it may consider necessary;

(b) subject to the provisions of this Act, issue instructions to any election officer in connection with his
functions under this Act;

(c) issue instructions to any candidate in an election in respect of the use of motor vehicles by or on
behalf of such candidate during the day on which such election is to be held.

17. Regulatory powers of Commission

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and of this Act, the Commission may, by statutory
instrument, make regulations providing for the registration of voters for the purposes of elections
and for the procedure and manner of conducting elections; separate regulations may be made in
respect of each category of elections.

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 6
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Commission may, by statutory
instrument, make regulations providing for all or any of the following matters—

(a) the division of constituencies into polling districts;

(b) the establishment of polling stations in polling districts;

(c) the registration of voters;

(d) the preparation of, and the form of, registers to be used in the registration of voters;

(e) the manner of ascertaining whether persons applying for registration as voters are qualified
for registration or for their inclusion in a register for a particular constituency;

(f) the making and determination of appeals, claims and objections with respect to the
registration of voters;

(g) the correction, amendment and certification of registers of voters;

(h) the circumstances in which the name of any person may be deleted from a register of voters,
the transfer of the names of persons from the register of voters or one polling district to that
of another polling district and the restoration of names of registers of voters;

(i) the nomination of candidates for any election and the manner of establishing and recording
that a candidate at a direct election for the National Assembly is the authorised candidate of
a political party;

(j) the making and determination of appeals against the rejection of nominations by a returning
officer;

(k) the publication of the names of candidates whose nominations are accepted;

(l) the payment of election fees by candidates, and the circumstances in which such fees are to
be returned;

(m) the use of symbols at an election;

(n) the appointment of, and the duties of, election agents and polling agents;

(o) the equipment and facilities to be provided at polling stations;

(p) the persons who may be admitted to polling stations;

(q) the manner and procedure of voting at an election;

(r) the manner of ascertaining the identity of persons wishing to vote at elections and whether
such persons are qualified to vote;

(s) the manner in which persons who are blind, or otherwise incapacitated, may vote;

(t) voting by persons employed on election duties on the day of an election;

(u) the maintenance of secrecy at elections;

(v) the postponement of, and the adjournment and extension of, time for a poll in case of riot or
open violence at an election;

(w) the administering of oaths or affirmations by election officers in respect of such matters as
may be prescribed;

(x) the procedure to be followed at the conclusion of a poll in an election;

(y) the procedure for counting votes in an election, and the circumstances in which votes in an
election may be rejected by a returning officer as invalid;

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 7
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

(z) for the purpose of declaring any candidate duly elected, the procedure to be followed where
there is an equality of votes between candidates in an election for members of the National
Assembly;

(aa) the procedure to be followed where only one person is duly nominated for election to the
office of President, or in a constituency for election to the National Assembly;

(bb) the declaration, notification and publication of the results of an election;

(cc) the custody and disposal of nomination papers, ballot papers, records, documents or other
things relating to the registration of voters and the conduct of elections;

(dd) election expenses and the return of election expenses;

(ee) the notification and publication of any casual vacancy in the elected membership of the
National Assembly and the fixing of a date for an election to fill such vacancy;

(ff) the fixing of a date for an election of a President or an election following a dissolution of the
National Assembly;

(gg) the forms and records to be used for any of the purposes of this Act;

(hh) any matter to be prescribed by or under this Act.

(3) Before making any regulations which make any separate or distinct provision in respect of the
functions of the returning officer for the election of a President, the Electoral Commission shall
consult the returning officer.

(4) Regulations under this section shall not be affected by the dissolution of the Commission by which
they are made but shall remain valid and in force, subject to any amendment or revocation by a
subsequent Commission.

(5) Regulations under this section may provide in respect of any contravention thereof that the
offender shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand six hundred penalty units or to a term
of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both.

(6) No prosecution for an offence against this Act shall be commenced after the lapse of one year from
the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

[As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994]

[Cap. 1]

Part VI – Election petitions in respect of Parliamentary elections

18. Avoidance of elections

(1) No election of a candidate as a member of the National Assembly shall be questioned except by an
election petition presented under this Part.

(2) The election of a candidate as a member of the National Assembly shall be void on any of the
following grounds which is proved to the satisfaction of the High Court upon the trial of an election
petition, that is to say—

(a) that by reason of any corrupt practice or illegal practice committed in connection with the
election or by reason of other misconduct, the majority of voters in a constituency were
or may have been prevented from electing the candidate in that constituency whom they
preferred; or

(b) subject to the provisions of subsection (4), that there has been a non-compliance with the
provisions of this Act relating to the conduct of elections, and it appears to the High Court

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 8
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

that the election was not conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in such
provisions and that such non-compliance affected the result of the election;

(c) that any corrupt practice or illegal practice was committed in connection with the election by
or with the knowledge and consent or approval of the candidate or of his election agent or of
his polling agents;

(d) that the candidate was at the time of his election a person not qualified or a person
disqualified for election.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2), where, upon the trial of an election petition, the
High Court finds that any corrupt practice or illegal practice has been committed by or with the
knowledge and consent or approval of any agent of the candidate whose election is the subject of
such election petition, and the High Court further finds that such candidate has proved that—

(a) no corrupt practice or illegal practice was committed by the candidate himself or by his
election agent, or with the knowledge and consent or approval of such candidate or his
election agent; and

(b) such candidate and his election agent took all reasonable means to prevent the commission
of corrupt practice or illegal practice at such election; and

(c) in all other respects the election was free from any corrupt practice or illegal practice on the
part of such candidate or his election agent;

then the High Court shall not, by reason only of such corrupt practice or illegal practice, declare
that election of such candidate was void.

(4) No election shall be declared void by reason of any act or omission by an election officer in breach
of his official duty in connection with an election if it appears to the High Court that the election
was so conducted as to be substantially in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and that such
act or omission did not affect the result of that election.

19. Who may present election petitions

An election petition may be presented to the High Court by one or more of the following persons—

(a) a person who lawfully voted or had a right to vote at the election to which the election petition
relates;

(b) a person claiming to have had a right to be nominated as a candidate or elected at the election to
which the election petition relates;

(c) a person claiming to have been a candidate at the election to which the election petition relates;

(d) the Attorney-General.

20. Relief which may be claimed in election petition

(1) Any of the following reliefs may be claimed in an election petition—

(a) a declaration that the election was void;

(b) a declaration that any candidate was duly elected.

(2) In addition to the foregoing reliefs, a petitioner may apply to the High Court upon the trial of an
election petition for a scrutiny to be carried out by the High Court in such manner as the Court may
determine.

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 9
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

(3) On a scrutiny at the trial of an election petition, the following votes only shall be held invalid—

(a) the vote of any person whose name was not on the register of voters assigned to the polling
station at which the vote was cast or who was not authorised to vote at such polling station
under this Act;

(b) the vote of any person whose vote was procured by any corrupt practice or illegal practice;

(c) the vote of any person who committed or procured the commission of personation at the
election to which the election petition relates, contrary to the provisions of this Act;

(d) the vote of any person proved to have voted more than once at the election to which the
election petition relates;

(e) the vote of any person who was disqualified from voting at the election to which the election
petition relates.

(4) In this section "scrutiny" means an enquiry as to the validity of the votes cast, and includes the
determination of the number of valid votes cast for each candidate in the election in respect of
which the application for a scrutiny is made.

21. Form and procedure for presentation of election petitions

(1) Every election petition shall be in such form and shall contain such matters as may be prescribed by
rules made by the Chief Justice.

(2) Presentation of an election petition to the High Court shall be made by lodging it with the Registrar
in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(3) Every election petition shall be signed by the petitioner or by all the petitioners if more than one,
and shall be presented not later than thirty days after the date on which the result of the election to
which it relates is duly declared.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), when the election of any person (hereinafter
referred to as "the respondent") is questioned upon an allegation of a corrupt practice or an illegal
practice, the election petition may be presented—

(a) at any time before the expiry of twenty-one days after the day on which the returning officer
receives the return of the election expenses of the respondent; or

(b) if the election petition specifically alleges a payment of money or some other act to have
been made or done since the day referred to in paragraph (a) by the respondent or his
election agent, or with the privity of the respondent or of his election agent in pursuance or
in furtherance of the corrupt practice or illegal practice alleged in the election, at any time
within thirty days after the date of payment or other act.

(5) Where an election petition is presented under this section, the Registrar shall in writing inform the
Speaker of the National Assembly and the Commission of such presentation.

22. Duty of Registrar to make out list of election petitions

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the Registrar, shall make out a list of all election
petitions presented under this Act, placing them on such list in the order in which they are
presented, and he shall keep at his office a copy of such list which shall be open for inspection by
any person making application for inspection thereof.

(2) Every election petition shall, unless the High Court orders otherwise, be tried in the order in which
it stands on the list made out by the Registrar under subsection (1), but where more election
petitions than one are presented in respect of the same election, such election petitions shall be
bracketed together and shall be dealt with as one petition, standing, unless the High Court orders

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 10
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

otherwise, in such list in the place where the last of such election petitions would have stood if it
had been the only election petition presented in respect of that election.

23. Rules of practice and procedure, security for costs

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act the Chief Justice may make rules regulating generally the
practice and procedure of the High Court with respect to the presentation and trial of election
petitions, including rules as to the fine within which any requirement of such rules is to be
complied with and as to the costs of and incidental to the presentation and trial of election
petitions and as to the fees to be charged in respect of proceedings therein, and generally in regard
to any other matter relating thereto as the Chief Justice may deem necessary or desirable.

(2) After the presentation of an election petition, every petitioner thereto shall give such security for
costs, not exceeding in amount the sum of eight hundred fee units, as the High Court may order,
and such security shall be given within such time and in such manner and form as the Chief Justice
may prescribe by rules under this section or, in the absence of such rules, as the High Court may
order.

(3) Where, after the presentation of an election petition, no security for costs is given as required by or
under this section, no further proceedings shall be had on that election petition.

[As amended by Act No. 13 of 1994]

24. Withdrawal of election petitions

(1) A petitioner shall not withdraw an election petition without the leave of the High Court.

(2) No application for leave to withdraw an election petition shall be made until notice of intention to
withdraw such election petition has been given in such manner as the Chief Justice may prescribe.

(3) Where an election petition is presented by two or more petitioners, an application to withdraw such
election petition shall not be made except with the consent of all the petitioners thereto.

(4) The High Court may, upon an application for leave to withdraw an election petition, make such
order as to costs as it may think just.

25. Substitution of new petitioners

(1) Upon the hearing of an application under section twentyfour for leave to withdraw an election
petition, any person who might have been a petitioner in respect of the election to which that
election petition relates may, not withstanding the provisions of section twenty apply to the High
Court to be substituted for the petitioner so applying to withdraw, and the High Court may, if it
grants leave to such petitioner to withdraw, order that such person (hereinafter referred to as "the
substituted petitioner") be substituted for such petitioner.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the substituted petitioner shall, as nearly as may be, stand
in the same position, and be subject to the same liabilities, under this Act as the petitioner for
whom he is substituted (hereinafter referred to as "the original petitioner").

(3) Where the High Court makes an order under subsection (l), it may direct that the security for costs
given by the original petitioner shall remain as security for any costs caused thereafter by the
substituted petitioner upon the trial of the election petition, and may direct that, to the extent of
the amount of such security, the original petitioner shall be liable to pay the costs of the substituted
petitioner.

(4) Unless the High Court gives directions as in subsection (3), subsections (1) and (2) of section
twenty-three shall apply to the substituted petitioner as they apply in relation to a petitioner
presenting an election petition.

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 11
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

26. Abatement of election petitions

(1) If a sole petitioner or the survivor of several petitioners dies, then subject to the provisions of this
section, no further proceedings shall be had upon the election petition.

(2) The death of a petitioner shall not affect his liability for the payment of costs previously incurred.

(3) On the abatement of an election petition under subsection (l), any person who might have been a
petitioner in respect of the election to which that election petition relates may, notwithstanding
section twenty-one, apply to the High Court to be substituted as a petitioner in place of the
deceased petitioner and the High Court may, if it thinks fit, order that such person be substituted
accordingly.

(4) Where the High Court makes an order under this section for the substitution of a person in place
of a deceased petitioner such person shall, as nearly as may be, stand in the same position, and be
subject to the same liabilities, under this Act as the deceased petitioner would have been but for his
death, and subsections (1) and (2) of section twenty-three shall apply to such person as they apply
in relation to a petitioner presenting an election petition.

27. Trial of election petitions

(1) An election petition shall be tried and determined by the High Court in open court and within one
hundred and eighty days of the presentation of the election petition as provided under section
twenty-one.

(2) The High Court may adjourn the trial of an election petition from time to time and from place to
place.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the High Court may, in respect of the trial of an election
petition exercise such powers within its civil jurisdiction as it may deem appropriate.

(4) On the trial of an election petition, a verbatim record of all evidence given orally in such trial shall
be taken and transcripts of such record shall, at the conclusion of the proceedings, be delivered to
the Commission by the Registrar.

[As amended by Act No. 7 of 1995]

28. Provisions as to witnesses

(1) On the trial of an election petition, the High Court may—

(a) order any person who appears to the High Court to have been concerned in the election to
attend as a witness at such trial;

(b) examine any witness or any person who is present at such trial although such witness or
person is not called as a witness by any party to the proceedings:

Provided that after such examination by the High Court of such witness or person, such
witness or person may be cross-examined by or on behalf of the petitioner or the respondent.

(2) A person who is called as a witness at the trial of an election petition shall not be excused from
answering any question relating to any offence connected with an election on the ground that the
answer thereto may tend to incriminate him, or on the ground of privilege:

Provided that—

(a) a witness who answers to the satisfaction of the High Court every question which he is
required to answer under this section, and the answers to which may tend to incriminate
him, shall not be liable to prosecution for any offence committed by him in connection with
that election and in respect of which he is so examined and such witness shall be entitled to

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 12
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

receive a certificate of indemnity under the hand of the Registrar stating that he is freed and
discharged from liability to prosecution for that offence;

(b) an answer by a witness to a question before the High Court under this section shall not,
except in the case of any criminal proceedings for giving false evidence in respect of such
evidence, be admissible in any proceedings, civil or criminal, in evidence against him.

(3) Where a person has received a certificate of indemnity under subsection (2), and any legal
proceedings are at any time brought against him for any offence to which such certificate relates,
the court having cognizance of the case shall, on proof of the certificate of indemnity, stay
such proceedings and may award to that person such costs as he may have been put to in such
proceedings.

(4) All reasonable expenses incurred by any person in attending at or appearing before the High Court
to give evidence as a witness at the trial of an election petition shall be allowed to such person
according to the scale of allowances and expenses appropriate in civil proceedings before the High
Court.

29. Conclusion of trial election petition

(1) At the conclusion of the trial of an election petition, the High Court shall determine whether the
respondent, or any other and which person, was duly elected, or whether the election to which the
election petition relates was void, and the Registrar shall as soon as may be, submit a copy of such
determination to the Speaker of the National Assembly and to the Commission.

(2) Where the High Court determines under subsection (1) that the respondent was duly elected, such
election shall be and remain valid.

(3) Where the High Court determines under subsection (1) that the respondent was not duly elected
but that some other person was duly elected, such other person shall be deemed to have been
elected accordingly.

(4) Where the High Court determines under subsection (1) that the respondent was not duly
elected, and that no other person was duly elected, at the election concerned, the vacancy in the
membership of the National Assembly in respect of which that election was held shall be deemed to
continue until duly filled.

(5) Where a determination under subsection (l) alters the results of an election as previously declared,
it shall be the duty of the Commission to publish the results as so altered in the Gazette.

(6) Where it appears to the High Court upon the trial of an election petition that any corrupt practice
or illegal practice has been committed by any person in connection with the election to which
such election petition relates, the High Court shall, at the conclusion of the proceedings, prepare a
report stating—

(a) the evidence given in the proceedings in respect of such corrupt practice or illegal practice;

(b) the names and particulars of any person by whom such corrupt practice or illegal practice
was, in the opinion of the Court, committed:

Provided the Court shall not state the name of any person under this paragraph unless such
person has been given an opportunity of appearing before the Court and of showing cause
why his name should not be so stated.

(7) The Registrar shall deliver a copy of every report prepared by the Constitutional Court under
subsection (6) to—

(a) the Commission; and

(b) the Director of Public Prosecutions.

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 13
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

30. Provisions as to costs

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, all costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to
the presentation and trial of an election petition shall be borne in such manner and in such
proportions as the High Court may order and in particular, any costs which in the opinion of the
High Court have been caused by any vexatious conduct or by any frivolous or vexatious allegations
or objections on the part of the petitioner or of the respondent, may be ordered to be paid by the
party by whom such costs have been caused.

(2) Where, on the trial of an election petition, the High Court determines that the respondent was not
duly elected and is of the opinion, having regard to the circumstances, that it would be just and
reasonable to relieve any party to the election petition from all or a portion of the costs thereof,
then—

(a) if the Court finds that the election of the respondent was due to a mistake or improper
performance or failure of performance of any function bona fide made by any election
officer, it may, after sufficient notice to the AttorneyGeneral to show cause to the contrary,
make such order as to the payment by the State of the costs of the proceedings or a portion
thereof, as it may deem proper;

(b) if the Court finds that the election of the respondent was due to a mistake or improper
performance or failure of performance of any function mala fide made by any election
officer, it may, after sufficient notice to such officer to show cause to the contrary, make such
order as to the payment by such election officer of the costs of the proceedings or a portion
thereof, as it may deem proper.

(3) The High Court may, on application made by any person to whom any costs, charges or expenses
are payable under this Act, order the same to be paid out of any deposit made to secure the same, or
by any surety who gave a recognizance to secure the same:

Provided that notice of such application shall be given, in such manner as may be prescribed by
rules of court to the party by or on whose behalf such deposit was made or for whom such surety
gave a recognizance, requiring such party, or such surety and such party, as the case may be,
to state, within such time and in such manner as may be so prescribed, whether he resists the
application.

(4) Where, on the trial of an election petition, any person appears to the High Court to have been
guilty of any corrupt practice or illegal practice relating to the election which is the subject of such
election petition, the Court may, after giving that person an opportunity of making a statement
to show cause why the order should not be made, order the whole or a portion of the costs of or
incidental to the trial of such election petition to be paid by the said person to such person or
persons as the Court may determine.

(5) Execution may be levied under any order for payment made by the High Court under this section in
the same manner and to the same extent as execution may be levied under a judgement of the High
Court for the payment of money.

(6) Money deposited as security shall, when no longer needed as security for costs, be returned to
the person in whose name it is deposited or to any person entitled to receive the same by order of
the High Court, which may be upon motion after notice and proof that all just claims have been
satisfied or otherwise sufficiently provided for as the High Court may require.

Part VII – Other questions relating to Parliament

31. Applications to members and officers of Parliament

(1) Any question which may arise as to whether—

(a) Any person has been validly appointed as a nominated member of the National Assembly;

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 14
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

(b) the seat of an elected member or of a nominated member of the National Assembly, has
become vacant, other than a question arising from the election of a candidate as a member of
the National Assembly; or

(c) any person has been validly elected as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
or, having been so elected, has vacated the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker;

may be heard and determined by the High Court upon application made by—

(i) any person to whom the question relates; or

(ii) in the cases referred to in paragraph (a) (b) or (c), any member of the National Assembly; or

(iii) the Attorney-General.

(2) Any person who makes an application to the High Court under subsection (l) shall have the right to
appear and be represented before the High Court.

(3) Subject to any rules of courts, the powers, practice and procedure of the High Court in respect
of the trial of election petitions under Part VI shall apply mutatis mutandis to the hearing and
determination of such applications.

32. Effect of determination

Every determination of the High Court under this Part shall have effect, subject to the provisions of Article
seventy-one of the Constitution, in accordance with the terms thereof.

[Cap. 1]

Part VIII – Miscellaneous and repeals and transitional

33. ***
[repealed by Act No. 17 of 1994]

34. When incapacity may be removed

Whenever a person has become subject to any incapacity under this Act by reason of a conviction or by
reason of any declaration or report of any court, and any witness who gave evidence against such person
upon the proceeding for such conviction, declaration or report is convicted of perjury in respect of that
evidence, such person may apply to the High Court which, if satisfied that the conviction, declaration or
report, so far as it concerns that person, was based upon perjured evidence, may order that his incapacity
shall from that time cease, and the same shall cease accordingly.

35. No person required to state how he voted

No person who has voted at an election shall in any proceedings, whether brought under this Act or
otherwise, be required, to state for whom he has voted.

36. Evidence as to holding of election

Upon any charge of a corrupt practice or an illegal practice, or any other offence against this Act, alleged
to have been committed at or in connection with an election, the certificate of a returning officer that the
election mentioned therein was being or had been held shall be sufficient evidence of the fact that such
election was being or had been held.

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 15
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

37. Validation of certain documents

No misnomer or any inaccurate description of any person or place in any register, list, nomination paper,
notice or other document required for the purposes of this Act shall affect the full operation of the
document with respect to that person or place in any case where the description of the person or place is
such as to be commonly understood.

38. Repeals and saving

The Electoral Act, 1973, is hereby repealed:

Provided that, notwithstanding the repeal of the Electoral Act, 1973, any statutory instrument made
thereunder by an Electoral Commission established under the Constitution of Zambia 1973, which is in
force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall, so far as it is not inconsistent with the
Constitution and this Act, continue in force after the commencement of this Act as if it had been made by a
Commission under this Act;

and any such statutory instrument shall be construed with such modifications, adaptations, qualifications
and exceptions as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with the Constitution and this Act, and
such statutory instrument or rules of practice may be amended or revoked by the Commission in exercise
of powers conferred under this Act.

39. ***
[Has had its effect]

40. ***
[Has had its effect]

Schedule (Section 9)

Oath/affirmation of Zambian citizenship of Presidential

candidate and Presidential candidate's parents
I, (full names) _______________________________ of (residential address) ____________________ of (postal address)
_____________________________ and holder of National Registration Card No ____________________ being a candidate for
election to the office of President of the Republic of Zambia.

MAKE OATH/AFFIRMATION AND SAY THAT:

1. I was born on ______________________________

Village/Township/Town ______________________

District ______________ Country ______________

2. That I have attained the age of thirty-five years;

3. That I am a Zambian citizen;

4. That both my parents are Zambian citizens by birth/descent;*

That my father (full names) _________________

was born on ______________________________

Village/Township/Town __________________

District ______________ Country ___________

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 16
Electoral Act, 1991 (Chapter 13) Zambia

Repealed

and that my mother (full names)_____________

was born on ______________________________

Village/Township/Town__________________

District ______________Country ___________

*Delete whichever is not applicable.

5. That I am qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly;

6. That I have been domiciled in Zambia for a period of at least twenty years; and

7. That I have not twice been elected as President.

The above information has come to my knowledge by ____________________

Date ___________________ Signature _________________

____________________________

SWORN/AFFIRMED BY THE SAID: ________________________

__________________________________

At: ______________________________

This ________________ day of __________ 199 ________

BEFORE ME:

________________________

Notary Public

[As amended by Act No. 23 of 1996]

By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 17