By The Zambian Economist Analyst
LUSAKA, 10 August 2026 – The Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum has questioned a proposed change to the way Zambia’s presidential election result will be communicated, warning that a single consolidated announcement on 17 August could weaken public confidence if constituency-level updates are withheld.
The forum says Zambians are used to presidential results being announced in batches as the Electoral Commission of Zambia receives and verifies returns. It wants that practice retained when the country votes on 13 August.
Why the forum opposes a single announcement
Forum spokesperson Samuel Banda told a press briefing in Lusaka on Monday that the existing approach gives the commission, political parties and election observers time to identify discrepancies while verification is still under way.
He said announcing verified results progressively has helped the public follow the count and understand how the national total is assembled. In the forum’s view, holding all presidential figures until one announcement could create confusion and leave more room for speculation.
Banda argued that ECZ should explain why it wants to change a system the forum believes has worked. The commission had not issued a response to the concerns at the time of publication.
What ECZ’s published timetable says
ECZ’s 2026 elections timetable sets the first ballot for Thursday, 13 August. It schedules the receipt and verification of results from 15 to 17 August, followed by the declaration of election results on Monday, 17 August. Publication of results is scheduled from 17 to 24 August.
The timetable confirms the declaration date, but it does not state whether verified constituency results will be announced publicly as they arrive.
ECZ’s existing voter education guidance on voting-day activities says presidential results are announced at the National Results Centre as they are received from constituencies. The commission chairperson declares the president-elect after all constituency results have been received.
The distinction between announcing incoming results and declaring the final winner is at the centre of the forum’s concern.
Why the communication sequence matters
Election results pass through several checks. Presiding officers announce results at polling stations and post copies of the results forms. Returning officers total polling-station figures at constituency centres in the presence of party agents, the media and observers. Presidential figures are then transmitted to the National Results Centre in Lusaka.
Progressive announcements allow parties, observers and the public to compare the figures read at each stage. A single national announcement may still be based on the same verified forms, but ECZ would need to explain how stakeholders can monitor progress during the four days between voting and the scheduled declaration.
Clear communication also matters for businesses and households planning around election week. Readers can see our practical guide on how Zambian businesses should plan for the election period and our analysis of the economic position the next government will inherit.
Forum urges candidates to use legal channels
Forum chairperson Solomon Ngoma also called on all candidates in the 13 August election to accept the outcome peacefully.
He urged candidates with grievances to use the constitutional and legal channels available to them instead of resorting to violence. The appeal comes as ECZ continues briefings and operational preparations involving parties, candidates and observers. Read our earlier report on ECZ’s stakeholder briefings ahead of the 2026 election.
What voters should watch
- Whether ECZ confirms that constituency results will still be announced as they are verified.
- How accredited party agents and observers will monitor the national verification process.
- How often the commission will brief the public between the close of polls and 17 August.
- Whether published constituency figures can be reconciled with polling-station results forms.
The forum’s intervention is a request for procedural clarity rather than a challenge to the legal authority of ECZ to declare the result. The commission’s response will determine whether the proposed announcement is understood as a change in transparency or simply a fixed date for the final declaration.
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