Skip to content
News release

Most Zambians say they enjoy political freedoms – but have to be careful when they talk about politics

23 May 2023 Zambia
Download
News release
Key findings
  • Large majorities of Zambians say they feel free to choose whom to vote for without pressure (97%), to join political organisations of their choice (88%), and to say what they think (83%).
  • But almost six in 10 Zambians (59%) say people “always” or “often” have to be careful about what they say about politics.
  • Urban residents (66%) and men (64%) are more likely than rural residents (54%) and women (54%) to say people have to be cautious when talking about politics.
  • Older citizens (46%) and those with primary education or less (52%) are less likely to feel constrained in political speech.
  • More than six in 10 citizens (62%) prefer a society in which they are free to join any organisation, whether or not the government approves of it.

Overwhelming majorities of Zambians say they feel free to choose whom to vote for without pressure, to join political organisations of their choice, and to say what they think, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.

But six in 10 citizens also say they have to be careful about what they say about politics. Overall, most Zambians prefer a society where they are free to join any organisation, whether or not the government approves of it.