On 13th August 2026, Zambia went to the polls. In the days since, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has been sharing results from various polling stations and expected to declare the presidential result as soon as this process is complete. But beneath the headlines about those who will be declared winners and losers sits a number that says more about the future of our democracy than any single name on the ballot.  According to the Electroral Commision of Zambia, Of the 8,786,300 Zambians registered to vote this year, 4,066,423, 46.3%, are young people between 18 and 35. That is not a youth “segment” of the electorate. That is close to half of it.  What does this number tell us?  For years, young people have been talked about as the future of Zambian politics, the generation to “prepare” for leadership, to “empower,” to “engage” someday. This election makes clear that