LUSAKA – The African Union and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa have deployed 93 short-term observers to monitor Zambia’s General Election on 13 August 2026.
The joint AU-COMESA Election Observation Mission was deployed at the invitation of the Zambian Government and the Electoral Commission of Zambia, according to a statement issued by the two organisations and supplied to ZNBC.
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe is leading the mission, with Ambassador Marie-Pierre Lloyd of Seychelles, a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders, serving as deputy head.
Observers deployed across all 10 provinces
The mission comprises observers drawn from ambassadors accredited to the African Union, election management bodies, civil society, youth organisations and specialists in elections, human rights, gender and the media.
They come from 29 countries, including Botswana, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Teams will be deployed across Zambia’s 10 provinces to assess the pre-election environment, voting and counting procedures on Election Day, and developments in the immediate post-election period.
The deployment adds to the international presence around the polls. The Southern African Development Community and the European Union have separately confirmed observation missions for the same election.
What the mission will assess
The AU-COMESA mission said its assessment will be guided by Zambia’s electoral laws and regional and international standards, including the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
Observers are expected to examine whether procedures are applied consistently and whether voters, parties and candidates can participate in an environment that respects the applicable legal framework. Their work includes observing, recording and assessing the process. It does not replace the authority of the Electoral Commission of Zambia to administer the election or the courts to determine legal disputes.
The mission will also consult the ECZ, state institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, religious leaders, media organisations, the diplomatic community and other election observation missions.
Why election observation matters
Independent observation can strengthen public confidence by providing a structured assessment of the electoral process against established standards. It can also identify procedural weaknesses and produce recommendations for future elections.
The credibility and peaceful conduct of the election also carry economic significance. Clear institutions and an orderly political transition can support policy continuity and investor confidence, while disputed procedures or prolonged uncertainty can delay decisions by businesses and households. As economist Kelvin Chisanga argued in Elections Are a Major Economic Event, voters are also shaping the direction of taxation, debt management, investment, employment and public services.
The deployment comes as election preparations intensify. In Lusaka, 7,496 shortlisted poll staff have undergone training on the electoral process and related procedures.
Preliminary findings expected on 15 August
The AU-COMESA mission is expected to release preliminary findings at a press conference in Lusaka on 15 August 2026, two days after voting.
Those findings will provide an initial assessment and may be limited by the information available immediately after Election Day. A final and more comprehensive report is expected after the official announcement of the election results.
Source: Joint statement by the African Union and COMESA supplied to ZNBC. Additional election-observation context: SADC and the European External Action Service.
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