Elections and parliaments
Who holds power across SADC, and how secure it is
Every parliament, how each executive is chosen and every national election since independence.iWhat this page coversThe trends that matter for policy continuity: how long ruling parties have governed, whether they can change the Constitution alone, how close the races are and how clean the elections have been. Click any country in a chart for its parliament and full record.
Next up: South Africa, 4 Nov 2026.
Ruling party lost power in the last three years4of 16
Same party in power since independence or the first free vote6of 16
Governing side can amend the Constitution alone7of 16
Turnout at the latest national election, middle country69%From 38% to 87% of registered voters
What the record shows
- In 6 of 16 countries the same party has governed since independence or the first multiparty vote: Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.
- Ruling parties lost power at the ballot box in Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius and Seychelles in the last three years.
- The governing side can change the Constitution on its own in 7 countries: Comoros, DRC, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
- Turnout at the latest national election ranged from 38% in Lesotho to 87% in Tanzania; the middle country was at 69%.
- National elections are due by the end of 2027 in Lesotho, Angola and Madagascar.
Who holds power
Click a country for its parliament and full record| Country | Head of state | Ruling party | Lower house: governing side | Two thirds? | Upper house | Next vote | Clean elections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samia Suluhu Hassan (CCM) | CCM, since 1961 | 399/403 | Yes | None | October 2030 | 36 | |
| João Lourenço (MPLA) | MPLA, since 1975 | 124/220 | No | None | August 2027 | 29 | |
| Daniel Chapo (Frelimo) | Frelimo, since 1975 | 171/250 | Yes | None | October 2029 | 9 | |
| Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) | ZANU-PF, since 1980 | 194/280 | Yes | Senate, 80 | 2030 | 17 | |
| Mswati III | No parties | 74 seats | n/a | Senate, 30 | 2028 | 38 | |
| Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO) | SWAPO, since 1990 | 51/96 | No | National Council, 42 | November 2029 | 60 | |
| Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) | ANC, since 1994 | 287/400 | Yes | National Council of Provinces, 90 | 2029 | 85 | |
| Azali Assoumani (CRC) | CRC, since 2016 | 31/33 | Yes | None | 2029 | 18 | |
| Félix Tshisekedi (UDPS) | UDPS, since 2019 | 328/500 | Yes | Senate, 109 | December 2028 | 18 | |
| Hakainde Hichilema (UPND) | UPND, since 2021 | 183/280 | No | None | August 2031 | 46 | |
| Letsie III | RFP, since 2022 | 76/120 | No | Senate, 33 | 2027 | 78 | |
| Duma Boko (UDC) | UDC, since 2024 | 36/69 | No | Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs), 35 | 2029 | 80 | |
| Dharam Gokhool | Alliance du Changement, since 2024 | 60/66 | Yes | None | 2029 | 86 | |
| Michael Randrianirina | Transition | 163 seats | n/a | Senate, 18 | October 2027 | 18 | |
| Peter Mutharika (DPP) | DPP, since 2025 | 78/229 | No | None | September 2030 | 60 | |
| Patrick Herminie (United Seychelles) | United Seychelles, since 2025 | 19/34 | No | None | 2030 | 88 |
Bars show the governing side's share of voting seats; the dark tick marks the two-thirds needed to amend the Constitution.
Tanzania's ruling party has governed longest, for 65 years
Years the party leading the executive has held power without interruption, to 2026, coloured by each country's record since 1990.
Same party since independenceSame party since the first free votePower has changed handsMilitary-led transitionNo party elections
How long until each country votes
Months until the next scheduled national election; darker means sooner. Where only the year is known, mid-year is assumed.
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The largest party's vote share is at least 5 points below its peak since 1990 in 11 of 14 countries
The largest party's share of the vote in every lower-house election since 1990. Open circles mark a change of government; the dashed line is 50%. Click a country for detail.
Same party since independenceSame party since the first free votePower has changed handsMilitary-led transition
Turnout has fallen in 9 of 15 countries since their first multiparty election
Votes cast as a share of registered voters: first multiparty election against the latest national election.
First multiparty electionLatest election
The closest recent presidential race was in Seychelles, decided by 2 points in the first round
First-round share of the valid vote for the winner and the runner-up at the latest presidential election, closest race first.
WinnerRunner-up
How clean national elections are
V-Dem's clean elections index, 0 to 100: electoral commission autonomy and capacity, the voter register, vote buying, irregularities, intimidation and violence, latest year.
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Every parliament
Lower or single house; click for both houses and the full recordComing up
Hover a vote for what is at stakeDate fixedMonth or year only; the band shows the window
- 4 Nov 2026ScheduledSouth Africa · Local government electionsSouth Africa: Local government electionsThe first test of the coalition parties since 2024. Metro results in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Cape Town decide who runs the municipal services, including water and electricity distribution, that businesses depend on.Sources: SAnews, Electoral Commission
- 2027ExpectedAngola · General electionAngola: General electionPresident Lourenço is term-limited and has said he will step down. The MPLA’s choice of successor, and UNITA’s strength after 2022, make this the most open Angolan election in decades. Oil policy, the kwanza and the Lobito Corridor are at stake.Sources: 360 Mozambique, Maka Angola
- 2027ExpectedLesotho · General electionLesotho: General electionFive-year cycle; exact date not yet set. Coalition stability and the long-delayed constitutional reforms are the issues to watch.Sources: NDI elections calendar
- June 2027ScheduledMadagascar · Constitutional referendumMadagascar: Constitutional referendumPart of the two-year transition led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina. The new constitution will set the rules for the October 2027 presidential vote.Sources: Africanews
- October 2027ScheduledMadagascar · Presidential election ending the transitionMadagascar: Presidential election ending the transitionA return to civilian rule would matter for donor funding, trade preferences and investor confidence. Watch whether the timetable holds.Sources: Africanews
- 2028ExpectedEswatini · Parliamentary electionEswatini: Parliamentary electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
- December 2028ExpectedDRC · General electionDRC: General electionAt risk: President Tshisekedi has said elections may not be possible while fighting continues in the east, and a referendum law could open the way to changing presidential term limits.Sources: Al Jazeera, Africanews
- 2029ExpectedBotswana · General electionBotswana: General electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
- 2029ExpectedComoros · Presidential electionComoros: Presidential electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
- 2029ExpectedMozambique · General electionMozambique: General electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
Recent results
Hover a vote for the result and what it means- 13 Aug 2026Zambia: General electionResult: Hakainde Hichilema (UPND) re-elected with 61.4% of the presidential vote; Brian Mundubile 38%.Continuity for the IMF-backed debt restructuring and the mining investment drive. EU observers called the vote largely peaceful but held in an environment that limited freedoms, and opposition arrests on election night raise political risk into the second term.Sources: Al Jazeera, Lusaka TimesHeld
- 29 Oct 2025Tanzania: General electionResult: Samia Suluhu Hassan (CCM) declared winner with 97.66%. The main opposition party, Chadema, was barred and its leader jailed.Policy continuity, but deadly protests, internet restrictions and a disputed result raise reputational and operational risk for investors. Watch donor relations and any sanctions talk.Sources: Al Jazeera, CNNHeld
- 27 Sept 2025Seychelles: Presidential election (two rounds)Result: Patrick Herminie (United Seychelles) won the October run-off with 52.7%, unseating President Wavel Ramkalawan (47.3%).A peaceful change of power. Tourism and offshore finance policy are the areas to watch under the new administration.Sources: Al JazeeraHeld
- 16 Sept 2025Malawi: General electionResult: Former president Peter Mutharika (DPP) won with 56.8%; incumbent Lazarus Chakwera took 33% and conceded.Voters punished high inflation and shortages of foreign currency and fuel. Watch the new government’s exchange-rate policy and its relationship with the IMF.Sources: Al Jazeera, Chatham HouseHeld
- 12 Jan 2025HeldComoros · Parliamentary election (two rounds, January and February)Comoros: Parliamentary election (two rounds, January and February)Result: Legislative elections held in two rounds on 12 January and 16 February 2025.No analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: IPU Parline, International IDEA
- 27 Nov 2024Namibia: General electionResult: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO) elected as Namibia’s first woman president; SWAPO kept its majority.Continuity of SWAPO rule. Green hydrogen, oil discoveries offshore and local ownership rules are the policy areas investors are watching.Sources: IPU Parline, WikipediaHeld
- 10 Nov 2024Mauritius: General electionResult: Navin Ramgoolam’s Alliance du Changement won 60 of 62 elected seats, ending Pravind Jugnauth’s government.A large mandate for the new government. Public finances and the offshore financial centre’s standing are the key issues for investors.Sources: WikipediaHeld
- 30 Oct 2024Botswana: General electionResult: The Umbrella for Democratic Change won a majority and Duma Boko became president, ending 58 years of Botswana Democratic Party rule.A peaceful first change of ruling party. The diamond slump, the De Beers agreement and fiscal pressure dominate the new government’s agenda.Sources: WikipediaHeld
- 9 Oct 2024Mozambique: General electionResult: Daniel Chapo (Frelimo) declared winner; the result was disputed by Venâncio Mondlane and followed by months of deadly protests.Post-election unrest disrupted border trade and the Maputo corridor. Security in Cabo Delgado and the restart of LNG projects remain the key investor questions.Sources: WikipediaHeld
- 29 May 2024South Africa: General electionResult: The ANC won 40.2%, losing its majority for the first time since 1994, and formed a Government of National Unity with the DA and others.Coalition government has broadened reform, notably in electricity, logistics and ports, but tensions between partners are a standing risk.Sources: WikipediaHeld
- 14 Jan 2024Comoros: Presidential electionResult: Azali Assoumani re-elected; the opposition rejected the result and protests followed.No analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: WikipediaHeld
- 20 Dec 2023DRC: General electionResult: Félix Tshisekedi re-elected with about 73% of the vote; the opposition disputed the process.Mining policy, the conflict in the east and the push to revise the constitution before 2028 shape the investment climate.Sources: WikipediaHeld
- 16 Nov 2023Madagascar: Presidential electionResult: Andry Rajoelina re-elected amid an opposition boycott. He was removed in October 2025 after youth-led protests, and Colonel Michael Randrianirina took power.Superseded by the 2025 military-led transition. See the 2027 referendum and presidential election.Sources: Wikipedia, ISS AfricaHeld
- 29 Sept 2023HeldEswatini · Parliamentary electionEswatini: Parliamentary electionResult: Tinkhundla elections for the House of Assembly; political parties cannot contest. Executive power remains with the king.No analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
Professional members can download every result as a CSV. Sources and method