1973 Zambian general election

← 1968 5 December 1973 1978 →
Turnout	39.4%
Nominee Kenneth Kaunda Party UNIP Popular vote 581,245 Percentage 88.8%
President before election Kenneth Kaunda UNIP Elected President Kenneth Kaunda UNIP

Politics of Zambia
Constitution Human rights
Government President Hakainde Hichilema Vice-President Mutale Nalumango Cabinet
Legislature National Assembly Speaker: Nelly Mutti Constituencies
Judiciary Constitutional Court President: Mulela Margaret Munalula Supreme Court Chief Justice: Mumba Malila
Elections General 1964 1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 Presidential 2008 2015 Referendums 1969 2016 Political parties By-elections
Administrative divisions Provinces Districts
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Joseph Malanji Diplomatic missions of / in Zambia Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
National symbols Flag Anthem
Zambia portal Other countries
v t e

General elections were held in Zambia on 5 December 1973. They were the first elections held since the country was formally declared a one-party state in August, with the United National Independence Party (UNIP) as the only legally permitted party.^[1] UNIP leader Kenneth Kaunda was automatically elected to a third five-year term as President, and was confirmed in office via a referendum in which 88.8% of voters approved his candidacy. UNIP also won all 125 seats in the National Assembly. Voter turnout was 39% of the 1,746,107 registered voters for the presidential election,^[2] and 33% for the National Assembly election.^[3]

Prior to the elections, primary elections were held to elect candidates for the 125 constituencies. Only UNIP members could vote in the primaries, and the top three candidates would be able to stand for the National Assembly election.^[4] In total, 532 people stood for election to the National Assembly.^[4]

Results

President

Kaunda was the sole candidate for president, and voters voted yes or no to his candidacy.

National Assembly