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Zambia

National Assembly

General Information

Parliament name (generic / translated)	National Assembly
Structure of parliament	Unicameral
Leadership
President	Amusaa K. Mwanamwambwa (M)
Secretary General	Doris Katai K. Mwinga (F)
Composition
Members (statutory / current number)	158 / 157
Women (current number)	22 (14.01%)
Mode of designation	Directly elected 150 Appointed 8
Term	5 years
Last renewal dates	28 September 2006

Electoral System

Legal Framework
Electoral law	15 December 2004 Last amendment: 12.05.2006
Mode of designation	Directly elected 150 Appointed 8
Voting system	Majority: Simple majority vote There is no threshold to win a seat. There are no reserved seats or quotas for women, ethnic minorities or other categories. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections. Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements	age: 18 years Zambian citizenship (including naturalized citizens) residence in the country at the time of election disqualifications: allegiance to a foreign State, insanity, sentence of death or imprisonment, conviction of a corrupt or illegal practice within five years preceding the elections, persons found guilty of such practice upon the trial of an election petition, lawful custody, persons who are not in possession of a national registration card.
Candidates
Eligibility	qualified voters age: 21 years Zambian citizenship (including naturalized citizens) ability to speak and read in the official language of Zambia citizens overseas, who are not civil servants, are eligible residence in the country at the time of election ineligibilities: insanity, undischarged bankrupts, allegiance to a foreign State, sentence of death or imprisonment, restriction in movement or detention pursuant to certain laws
Incompatibilities	head of State holders of public posts holders of judicial offices (judges) civil servants executives of the Electoral Commission members of the Electoral Commission members of the armed forces members of the police forces The incompatibilities above are valid during the term of office.
Candidacy requirements	nomination by at least nine registered voters of the constituency concerned nomination must be accompanied by a monetary deposit of 500,000 kwacha (approximately US$ 125)

Presidency

Appointment and term of office
Title	Speaker of the National Assembly
Term	duration: 5 years (term of House) reasons for interruption of the term: removal by resolution of the Assembly supported by the two third of all the Members, resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament
Appointment	elected by all Members of the Assembly election held at the beginning of new Assembly or whenever the office falls vacant after Member's mandates are validated and before Members are sworn in
Eligibility	any person qualified to be elected as Member of the Assembly but who is not Member of the Assembly can be candidate
Voting system	formal vote by consensus generally only one candidate elected by overwhelming majority a Member addressing himself to the Clerk proposes to the House the name of a candidate.This proposal is seconded and the House indicates by the cry of "hear, hear" that the motion is passed without question put. However if more than one person is proposed and seconded the question is put, naming the person to take the chair until a name is agreed on
Procedures / results	the Clerk of the Assembly presides over the Assembly during the voting the Clerk of the Assembly supervises the voting the results cannot be challenged
Status
Status	ranks fifth in the hierarchy of State represents the Assembly with the public authorities represents the Assembly in international bodies (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Inter-Parliamentary Union meetings) is ex officio president of other bodies in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities	salary of K 1,911,180 per annum + allowance K 3,925,592 per annum official residence official car domestic staff body guards staff employed by the National Assembly

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