“GEN Z voters to shape 2026 Zambian elections amid calls for genuine youth inclusion,” predicts CLRI’s Mundia Paul Hakoola

By Hellen Bwalya

​The Continental Leadership Research Institute (CLRI) has announced that Generation Z and the broader youth constituency will significantly influence the 2026 General Elections in Zambia.
In a Press Statement released on Monday, 12th January, 2026, CLRI Executive Director Mundia Paul Hakoola stated that this influence is driven by demographic weight, digital prowess, and a shift toward issue-based voting. While acknowledging the enactment of Bill 7 as a starting point for youth participation, the Institute stressed that current measures are limited and called for more structured, transformative steps to ensure young people and women are included in decision-making at all levels of governance.
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The Institute’s analysis indicates that Gen Z voters, who will be between the ages of 18 and 29 during the next election cycle, possess a low tolerance for political rhetoric and traditional party slogans. This generation is characterized as highly informed, fact-driven, and active on social media, where they serve as powerful agenda-setters. According to the CLRI, these voters are prioritizing concrete outcomes regarding the cost of living, job creation, education quality, and social justice over historical party loyalties. This accountability mindset means political actors will likely be rewarded or punished based on policy consistency and performance rather than symbolic gestures.
​To address these shifting dynamics, the CLRI is urging political parties to move beyond “token appointments” and campaign-time rhetoric. Mundia Paul Hakoola emphasized that parties carry a heavy responsibility to provide practical, sustainable solutions to youth unemployment and governance deficits. The Institute’s recommendations include expanding the representation of youths and women in party leadership and establishing measurable policy commitments that align with youth priorities. Ultimately, the CLRI maintains that meaningful inclusion is a democratic imperative, asserting that a democratic future excluding these demographics from real power is unsustainable for Zambia.