LUSAKA – The Electoral Commission of Zambia has held a series of meetings with political parties, candidates and international election observers as preparations intensify for the General Election on 13 August 2026.
The Commission said it met participating political parties and candidates on Friday, 7 August, before receiving the SADC Election Observation Mission during a courtesy call.
Further engagements were held on Saturday, 8 August, with international observer groups, including representatives from the Great Lakes Region, ECF-SADC, the European Union, the Commonwealth, the SADC Election Observation Mission, the African Union and COMESA.
ECZ provides election-preparedness update
According to the ECZ, the meetings provided an opportunity to update stakeholders on the state of election preparations and clarify key electoral procedures.
The Commission described the consultations as part of its continuing commitment to transparency, inclusion and effective participation by stakeholders in the electoral process.
Political parties and candidates depend on timely operational information from the ECZ, including voting procedures, polling arrangements, counting, results management and the application of electoral rules. Observer missions also require access to election administrators and other stakeholders so they can assess the process against Zambia’s legal framework and applicable regional and international standards.
International missions assessing the process
The engagements come as several international missions establish their presence across Zambia. SADC has confirmed that its observers are undertaking pre-election, Election Day and immediate post-election activities across all 10 provinces. The European Union has separately said its mission will assess the election independently and impartially against national law and international standards.
The African Union and COMESA have also deployed a joint 93-member observation mission, with preliminary findings expected on 15 August.
Election observers do not administer the poll or determine the official result. Those responsibilities remain with the ECZ, while disputes are handled through the legal mechanisms provided under Zambian law. Observer missions assess the process, publish findings and may recommend improvements.
Transparency will depend on follow-through
Stakeholder briefings can reduce uncertainty by giving parties, candidates and observers a common understanding of procedures before voting begins. Their value, however, will depend on whether questions raised during the meetings receive clear answers and whether agreed procedures are applied consistently across polling stations.
The ECZ said it would continue working with parties, candidates, observers and other electoral stakeholders to support a credible and peaceful election.
The consultations follow operational preparations across the country, including the training of 7,496 shortlisted poll staff in Lusaka. Together, the training and stakeholder meetings form part of the final administrative work before Election Day.
A credible and orderly election also matters for the economy. Clear procedures and timely resolution of disputes can limit political uncertainty for households, businesses and investors as the country prepares for the next policy cycle.
Source: Electoral Commission of Zambia. Additional observer-mission context: SADC and the European External Action Service. Image credit: ECZ.
Related election coverage
The Independent Broadcasting Authority has also warned broadcasters against speculative and unverified election results.
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