According to Cabinet Office Circular No. 12 of 2026 issued by Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa, the public holiday is in accordance with Article 56(2) of the Constitution of Zambia, which provides that the day on which a general election is held shall be a public holiday. Under the Constitution, Zambia holds general elections every five years on the second Thursday of August.
Employers Required to Facilitate Voting
Kangwa stated that the holiday applies to both the public and private sectors, and all employers are expected to observe it. Employers are required to give eligible employees an opportunity to vote, while institutions providing essential services should make arrangements to maintain uninterrupted operations and allow their employees to cast their ballots.
Employees who need to travel before polling day are advised to make necessary arrangements with their employers, including applying for leave where required. The government has called upon all employers to comply with the declaration and facilitate the orderly participation of their employees in the voting exercise.
General Election Underway
Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m., with results scheduled to be announced on Monday, according to the Electoral Commission. Up to 8.7 million voters are expected to participate in the elections, which will elect the President and Vice-President, Members of Parliament, Mayors, Council Chairpersons and Councillors.
The general election is widely expected to give President Hakainde Hichilema a second term, although frustration over the cost of living may dent his support. Hichilema has led the southern African copper producer since 2021 and is running on his economic record, having steered Zambia through a debt restructuring and economic rebound since it defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020.
His main challenger is Brian Mundubile, an experienced parliamentarian but first-time presidential candidate who is leading an opposition alliance backed by supporters of Hichilema's predecessor, the late former president Edgar Lungu.
Essential Services to Continue
Kangwa clarified that Friday, August 14, 2026, will not be a public holiday, and all government operations will resume as normal. Institutions responsible for providing essential services are required to put in place appropriate arrangements to ensure continuity of service while facilitating their employees to cast their votes.
With reporting from ZNBC, Reuters, DW, France 24 and the Zambian Cabinet Office.
