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United Party for National Development

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United Party for National Development
AbbreviationUPND
PresidentHakainde Hichilema
ChairpersonCollins Maoma
Secretary-GeneralBatuke Imenda
Governing bodyNational Management Committee
SpokespersonCornelius Mweetwa
Vice PresidentMutale Nalumango
Deputy Secretary-GeneralGetrude Imenda
National TreasurerWatson Lumba
FounderAnderson Mazoka
FoundedDecember 1998 (1998-12)
Split fromMMD
Youth wingUPND Youth League
Membership (2024)Increase 620,000
IdeologyLiberalism
Agrarianism
Political positionCentre-right[1]
National affiliationUPND Alliance
Continental affiliationAfrica Liberal Network
Colours  Red
  Yellow
SloganZambia Forward
National Assembly
85 / 156
Pan-African Parliament
2 / 5
(Zambian seats)
Website
upndzambia.org
This article is part of
a series about
Hakainde Hichilema
6th President of Zambia
2021–present
Government
Others

The United Party for National Development (UPND) is a political party in Zambia, founded in December 1998 by Anderson Mazoka, a former executive of the Anglo American Corporation. The party emerged as a significant opposition force following a split from the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD). The UPND positions itself as a centrist party with strong ideological commitments to social and economic liberalism, advocating for policies that support free-market principles, human rights, and democratic governance. The party receives its highest support from rural regions of the country.[1]

The UPND rose to national prominence under the leadership of Anderson Mazoka and his protege, Hakainde Hichilema, a businessman who assumed the party's presidency after Mazoka's death in 2006. Under Hichilema's leadership, the party continued to be a major force in Zambian politics, contesting multiple elections before finally winning the presidency decisively in the 2021 elections.

The UPND is also a member of the Africa Liberal Network,[2] aligning itself with other liberal parties across the continent.

History

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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 before that.[3] 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 election 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 became the main opponent to the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu after receiving the backing of several MMD MPs. Although Hichilema received 47% of the vote, Lungu was elected with 48% of the vote. Hichilema contested the 2016 general election as the main opponent to Lungu and Hichilema finished second with 47% of the vote while Lungu was re-elected with 50% of the vote.[4]

In 2018, the UPND was one of the 10 opposition political parties that formed the Opposition Alliance, with Charles Milupi of the Alliance for Democracy and Development as the chairperson.[5][6] In February 2021, Hichilema was chosen by the alliance to be the flag carrier of the alliance and the sole presidential candidate for the alliance at the 2021 general election, while also deciding that only the UPND will be used for candidacy identification in all elective positions. The Opposition Alliance was rebranded as the UPND Alliance.[7][8] Hichilema decided on 23 February 2021 that Mutale Nalumango (the UPND national chairlady) would be his running mate at the election.[9][10]

In the 2021 general election, after almost 23 years in opposition, the UPND became the largest party in the National Assembly, winning a total 82 seats, forming 46.64% of parliament. The Patriotic Front won 59 seats (35.30% of parliament) and were therefore Zambia's largest opposition party.

After three months of official campaigns in 2021 that were briefly suspended first voluntarily upon the death of Zambia's first President Kenneth Kaunda in June, and then on instruction from the electoral authority due to incidents of political violence in several districts,[11][12] Hichilema and Nalumango were elected President-Elect and Vice President-Elect with 2,852,348 votes or 59.02% of the vote.[13]

Youth representation

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The UPND has a youth league, the UPND Youth League. This youth League was formed to mobilise youth concerns. It represents young people from across Zambia. The party has signed a social contract with the youths, making it the first political party in Africa to have a youthful agenda.[14]

Electoral history

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Presidential elections

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Election Party candidate Votes % Result
2001 Anderson Mazoka 472,697 27.20% Lost Red XN
2006 Hakainde Hichilema 693,772 25.32% Lost Red XN
2008 353,018 19.70% Lost Red XN
2011 506,763 18.17% Lost Red XN
2015 780,168 46.67% Lost Red XN
2016 1,760,347 47.63% Lost Red XN
2021 2,852,348 59.02% Elected Green tickY

National Assembly elections

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Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Result
2001 Anderson Mazoka 416,236 23.77%
49 / 150
 Increase 49 Increase 2nd Opposition
2006 Hakainde Hichilema 610,608

as part of UDA

22.51%
26 / 150
 Decrease 48 Decrease 3rd Opposition
2011 464,527 17.21%
28 / 150
 Increase 2 Steady 3rd Opposition
2016 1,525,049 41.66%
58 / 156
 Increase 30 Increase 2nd Opposition
2021 2,230,324 46.22%
82 / 156
 Increase 24 Increase 1st Majority government

National Management Committee

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The National Management Committee (NMC) of the United Party for National Development (UPND) is the party's chief executive organ, responsible for overseeing the party's strategic direction and governance. The NMC is elected every five years during the party’s General Assembly and is responsible for electing the National Executive Committee for day-to-day decision-making.[15][16][17][18]

The NMC includes key leadership positions such as the president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary-general, deputy secretary-general, and national treasurer. These top positions, often referred to as the "Top Leadership," play a pivotal role in guiding the party's policies and activities.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hallink, Courtney; Siachiwena, Hangala (September 2023). "Political party ideology in Zambia: comparing the PF and the UPND on social welfare policies". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 61 (3): 323–342. doi:10.1017/S0022278X23000058. ISSN 0022-278X.
  2. ^ "ALN Member Parties". Africa Liberal Network.
  3. ^ Tom Lansford (2014) Political Handbook of the World 2014, CQ Press, p1615
  4. ^ Mfula, Chris; Mapenzauswa, Stella (15 August 2016). "Zambian president Lungu re-elected in disputed vote". Reuters. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Zambia : 10 opposition political parties resolved to work together to field candidates for 2021 Elections". 31 December 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Opposition Politicians Unite Against PF". Open Zambia. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Zambia : Opposition Alliance will now be called UPND Alliance and I'll be the Alliance Presidential Candidate-HH". Lusaka Times. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Opposition Parties Form 'UPND Alliance', With HH As Presidential Candidate". Open Zambia. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Zambia : UPND Gives Convention details as HH files for Nomination for Party Presidence". 29 January 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Zambia : Mutale Nalumango has been appointed as new UPND Vice President". 23 February 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Zambia : Opposition commended for suspending election campaigns to mourn KK". 19 June 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Campaigns banned – Zambia Daily Mail". www.daily-mail.co.zm. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Presidential Election Results". zambiaelections2021.org.zm. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  14. ^ "UPND youths in Kitwe challenge government on disbursement of Youth Empowerment Funds". Flava FM 87.7. 10 June 2019.
  15. ^ United Party for National Development Constitution (PDF).
  16. ^ "Zambia: UPND Unveils Newly Elected Management Committee with William Banda Raking Highly in the Party". 16 February 2021.
  17. ^ "HH Chairs UPND National Management Committee". 28 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Guy Scott Appointed to UPND Management Committee". 17 March 2021.

Further reading

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