Zambia's Youths and the 2021 General Election

In Zambia’s Youths and the 2021 General Election: Rescuing Democracy through Activism and Social Media, Emmanuel Matambo examines democracy in Zambia and shows how Zambia’s youth voters became the central focus during the 2021 election. Matambo analyzes the importance of social media leading up to the election, as well as the role of music, youth protests, and the youths influence on registered voters, that allowed for the end of the Patriotic Front’s (PF) decade in power. Through interviews and qualitative data, he highlights the outspokenness and activism of the youth and how they went above and beyond to ensure that the United Party for National Development (UPND) won the election. Further, this book argues that the large number of votes for the UPND during the election was not due to enthusiastic support from the voters, but rather was a rejection of the PF and was support for the party that had the most chance of ousting the PF. Matambo provides a detailed discussion of Zambia’s 2021 election and reflects on the power of the youth vote.