Zambia's Constitutional Reforms to Boost Youth and Women's Representation

TLDR

• When he took office in 2021, Zambia was in debt distress and had been failing to make its payments.
• This election is the first under significant constitutional changes enacted in late 2025.
• The number of constituency seats has expanded from 156 to 226, and 40 additional seats will be awarded through proportional representation: 20 for women, 15 for youth (counted as under 35) and five for persons with.
• The reforms aim to boost representation in a parliament where women have long been under-represented.
• This is all against the backdrop of recent constitutional reforms aimed at boosting the voice of youth and women.