ABSTRACT
At the time of the writing, Zambia seems to be facing one of its most significant political crises since democratic opening and backsliding to authoritarianism. This chapter starts with a brief historical overview of the Zambian political context. It then focuses on the mechanisms associated with the transition stage, the effects of political institutions and the party–citizen linkages. The new constitution came into effect on 24 August 1991, initiating Zambia's Third Republic and reintroducing multiparty elections, which had last been held in 1968. Since the first democratic elections on 31 October 1991, Zambia has held five general elections: in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016. During the authoritarian period, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) and Kaunda relied on extensive state intervention in the economy to domesticate and incorporate national elites. In urban areas this was done through nationalization and the creation of state-led corporations.
