Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Republic of Zambia

Type-one-party state

Capital: Lusaka

Political subdivisions: nine provinces

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; new constitution adopted September 1973; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; legal education at University of Zambia in Lusaka; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October

Branches: modified presidential system; unicameral legislature (National Assembly); judiciary

Government leaders: Dr Kenneth David KAUNDA, President (since October 1964); Kebby MUSOKOTWANE, Prime Minister (April 1985)

Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

Elections: general election held 27 October 1983; next general election scheduled for 1988

Political parties and leaders. United National Independence Party (UNIP), Kenneth Kaunda; former opposition party banned in December 1972 when one-party state proclaimed

Voting strength: (1983 election) 63.5% of eligible voters participated; Kaunda, who was the only candidate for president, received a 93% “yes” vote; National Assembly seats were contested by members of UNIP

Communists: no Communist party, but socialist sympathizers in upper levels of government and UNIP

Member of: AfDB, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT

NOTE: The information regarding Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.