Over 600 trained election monitors and polling agents have been deployed to constituencies across Zambia by the ZIKO LATHU Consortium, a coalition of civil society organisations, as the country heads into Thursday’s general election.

Monitors Positioned As Independent Observers

ActionAid Country Director Faides Tembatemba said the monitors have been equipped to serve as impartial, independent and well informed stakeholders at polling stations, constituencies and results centres. She was speaking in Lusaka during the launch of the ZIKO LATHU Consortium Election Situation Room and Youth Election Command Centre, which will coordinate the monitoring effort and track incidents as they are reported from the field.

The Situation Room adds a dedicated civil society layer to the machinery already assembled for election day, alongside the National Election Results Centre the Electoral Commission of Zambia launched at Mulungushi and the broadcast safeguards the Independent Broadcasting Authority has put in place for results reporting.

National Coverage, With Focus On Under Monitored Areas

Tembatemba said the consortium will expand its efforts to cover all constituencies, keeping its monitoring approach national in scope while giving particular attention to areas that have had limited election monitoring infrastructure in the past. That includes rural and peri urban constituencies where independent observation has traditionally been thinner than in Lusaka and the Copperbelt.

Violence Against Women Flagged As A Priority

Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council Executive Director Annie Anamela said violence against women during elections should be addressed promptly, adding her voice to a campaign period in which the Electoral Commission has already taken action against threats of political violence and President Hakainde Hichilema has warned of full consequences for offenders.

Call For A Large, Informed Turnout

Media Institute of Southern Africa National Director Austin Kayanda called on Zambians to make informed decisions by turning up in large numbers to vote for candidates of their choice, framing high, informed turnout as part of what keeps an election credible in the eyes of both citizens and outside observers.

Why Stakeholder Collaboration Matters

Panos Institute Southern Africa Executive Director Vusumuzi Sifile said the launch of the initiative is important because it demonstrates the need for stakeholder collaboration in ensuring free and fair elections. That collaboration mirrors the broader observation effort around Thursday’s vote, which has also drawn regional observers under the ICGLR and follows the arrival of ballot papers in constituencies such as Livingstone in the final stretch before polling.

What It Means

A credible, well observed election matters beyond politics. Independent monitoring of the kind ZIKO LATHU is deploying feeds directly into how quickly and how confidently results are accepted, which in turn shapes how soon government, business and development partners can settle into a period of policy certainty. For a country heading to the polls with several close, closely watched races, an accredited, nationally spread civil society presence at polling stations is one of the practical mechanisms that underpins that confidence.

By Zambian Economist Analyst

Related: Hichilema Warns of Arrests Over Alleged Election Disruption Plot

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material and all other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior express permission of The Zambian Economist. Where permission is granted, the content must be clearly credited to “The Zambian Economist,” with “www.zambianeconomist.com” prominently displayed.

WhatsApp: +260775574228 | Email: info@zambianeconomist.com
© 2026 The Zambian Economist.

Work With The Zambian Economist

• Advertise With Us
• List With Us
• Submit an Article

Former Patriotic Front cabinet minister Dr Dora Siliya has endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of Zambia’s 13 August general election, arguing that policy continuity would protect recent economic gains and give the country room to pursue industrialisation, investment and jobs.

Speaking on Diamond TV on Monday night, Siliya said she had been persuaded to support the current administration because Zambia had moved past the hardest phase of its economic adjustment. Her endorsement comes as voters prepare to choose a president and other representatives on Thursday.

Why Dora Siliya says continuity matters

Siliya tied her decision to Zambia’s debt restructuring and its engagement with the International Monetary Fund. She argued that a change in economic direction could put at risk the progress made since the change of government in 2021.

“Personally, I would want to see a continuation of this government because the first five years have been very difficult. We know now that working with the IMF, it has become clear that we are over the hill, and we want to see better beyond Thursday,” she said.

Dora Siliya, speaking on Diamond TV

She also credited international goodwill following the 2021 transfer of power with helping Zambia regain support from lenders, creditors and investors.

“I would probably say that I’m persuaded to say I would support the current administration because I think the worst is over, and it was international goodwill after the change of government in 2021 that has brought us here because things would have been worse,” she said.

Dora Siliya, speaking on Diamond TV

The endorsement is politically notable because Siliya served in cabinets formed by the PF, the party that Hichilema defeated in 2021. She said her decision was based on policy rather than political relationships.

What Zambia’s latest economic data shows

There is evidence behind Siliya’s case for stability, although the recovery remains incomplete. The IMF completed the sixth and final review of Zambia’s 38-month Extended Credit Facility in January 2026. In its latest public assessment in May, the Fund said restructuring agreements covered about 94% of the targeted debt. Inflation had fallen to 6.8% in April, within the Bank of Zambia’s 6% to 8% target band, while reserves had risen to the equivalent of 4.4 months of prospective imports.

The same IMF assessment also warned against treating stabilisation as a finished job. It revised projected 2026 growth down to 4.3% and expected inflation to reach 8.5% by year-end as higher fuel prices offset some of the effect of a stronger kwacha. Fiscal pressure had also increased, with the projected primary surplus cut to 1.1% of gross domestic product.

That mixed picture is central to the economic choice in this election. Continuity may reduce uncertainty around debt and budget policy, but any incoming administration will still face unfinished creditor negotiations, pressure on public spending and the need to turn headline stability into incomes and jobs. Read our analysis of what comes after Zambia’s completed IMF programme.

Mining, education and jobs

Siliya called for Zambia to capture more value from mining. She said lower production costs could lift company profits and government revenue. For operators, those costs include power reliability, transport, taxes, financing and the predictability of mining rules. Higher output can widen the tax base, but the public benefit also depends on sound tax administration, transparent agreements and local procurement.

What businesses should watch

Mining suppliers, manufacturers and investors will be watching whether the next government keeps a stable fiscal and regulatory framework while addressing Zambia’s energy constraints. Siliya’s call for industrialisation points to the harder stage of the recovery: using mining demand and export earnings to support Zambian production rather than relying mainly on raw copper exports.

She also backed the continuation of free education and called for higher education to become more affordable. For employers, the question is whether access to education is matched by technical skills that fit mining, energy, agriculture, construction and digital services. The jobs test will be whether investment produces sustained private-sector employment.

A cross-party endorsement in the campaign’s final days

Siliya urged Zambians to vote peacefully and to accept that citizens can make different political choices without hostility. Zambia’s polling date is Thursday, 13 August 2026, as confirmed when Hichilema filed his nomination for a second term.

“Every Zambian has a right to vote. Nobody should be angry with another person because they are not voting like you,” she said.

Dora Siliya, speaking on Diamond TV

What the endorsement means for investors

An endorsement does not settle the economic argument, but Siliya has framed her choice around policy credibility. Investors will judge the result and the next administration by four tests: fiscal discipline, completion of the remaining debt deals, predictable mining and energy policy, and whether private investment produces jobs. Our election market briefing explains the indicators investors are already tracking.

Key takeaways

• Dora Siliya has endorsed Hakainde Hichilema ahead of the 13 August election.
• She cited debt restructuring, the completed IMF programme and the case for economic continuity.
• The latest IMF figures show lower inflation and stronger reserves, but also slower projected growth and fresh fiscal pressure.
• Siliya wants more value from mining, continued free education and more affordable higher education.
• She urged peaceful voting and respect for different political choices.

Do you agree that continuity would protect Zambia’s economic gains, or does the country need a different approach after 13 August? Share your view in the comments.

Related reading

• The Economics of Zambia’s 2026 Election
• What a Second Hichilema Term Would Mean for Zambia’s Economy
• What the Next Government Inherits on 14 August
• The Viral 57% Poll Is Fake: What Zambia’s Real Economic Numbers Say

Primary source: Dora Siliya interview broadcast on Diamond TV on 10 August 2026. Economic context: International Monetary Fund. Photo credit: Dora Siliya.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material and all other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior express permission of The Zambian Economist. Where permission is granted, the content must be clearly credited to “The Zambian Economist,” with “www.zambianeconomist.com” prominently displayed.

WhatsApp: +260775574228 | Email: info@zambianeconomist.com
© 2026 The Zambian Economist.

Work With The Zambian Economist

• Advertise With Us
• List With Us
• Submit an Article

Explore our events, learn more about us, or contact The Zambian Economist.

LUSAKA, 10 August 2026: Zambia’s final campaign days should be about ballots, not blood. That is the central message in a statement from Thabo Kawana, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Media, as the country prepares to vote on Thursday, 13 August 2026.

Kawana condemned remarks by people who have spoken of being ready to kill or be killed over the election. He described the vote as a peaceful contest of ideas and asked political parties, candidates and supporters to remain within the harmonised campaign timetable.

A peace appeal with a disputed political claim

The statement went further. Kawana alleged that unnamed political actors planned campaign activity in Lusaka and Copperbelt outside the agreed schedule, with the aim of provoking police action, arrests and claims that Zambia’s democratic space had narrowed.

No party was named. The statement did not include documentary evidence of the alleged plan or a response from those accused. The Zambian Economist has not independently verified the allegation. It should therefore be read as a claim by a senior government official, not as an established fact.

That distinction matters in the last days of a heavily watched campaign. A call for calm can lower the temperature. An accusation against unidentified opponents can also increase suspicion unless the responsible institutions quickly publish the facts on which it rests.

What the election framework requires

The Electoral Commission of Zambia’s revised roadmap fixes polling day on 13 August and included the development of the campaign timetable in May. ECZ guidance says political parties and candidates are expected to follow electoral procedures and the Electoral Code of Conduct. It assigns the police responsibility for maintaining law and order at campaign meetings and processions.

The timetable is meant to prevent rival processions from being routed into the same place at the same time. It works only if the schedule is public, authorised changes are recorded and every participant is treated by the same rule. ECZ and the Zambia Police Service should therefore identify the relevant entries for Lusaka and Copperbelt, state whether any variation was approved and explain what action follows from a breach.

Enforcement also needs restraint. The right to conduct a lawful campaign should be protected. Where an event is unauthorised, officials should communicate the restriction clearly, give lawful directions and avoid language or tactics that turn an administrative dispute into a confrontation.

Why Lusaka and Copperbelt matter to the economy

Lusaka and Copperbelt are not ordinary campaign stops. Zambia Statistics Agency figures from the 2022 census put Lusaka Province’s population at 3,093,617 and Copperbelt’s at 2,768,192. Nearly 5.9 million people live in the two provinces, which contain the capital’s service economy and the country’s main mining and industrial centres.

A rally that closes a commercial road, delays a shift change or interrupts freight movement has a cost even when nobody is injured. Retailers lose trading hours, transporters miss delivery windows and employees struggle to reach work. The Lusaka-Ndola corridor links the political capital to the Copperbelt’s mines, manufacturers and suppliers, making predictable movement especially important during election week.

The Bank of Zambia’s April 2026 Financial Stability Report said market uncertainty could rise as investors adopted a wait-and-see position before the election. Peaceful voting will not settle every fiscal or policy question, but disorder would add a risk that businesses and markets have not priced for.

For practical election-week continuity measures, see our guide on how Zambian businesses should plan for the election period.

Neutral enforcement is part of credibility

The government is entitled to urge compliance with electoral rules. Political parties are entitled to know those rules in advance and to challenge restrictions through lawful channels. Voters are entitled to see the same standard applied to the governing party and the opposition.

That places the next move with ECZ and the police, not with competing social media accounts. If there is a planned breach, publish the schedule and the notice given to organisers. If the information is wrong, correct it. If a conflict remains, use the national and district conflict-management structures established for electoral disputes.

SADC has deployed an electoral observation mission for the 13 August vote. Its presence adds scrutiny, but domestic institutions still carry the daily burden of keeping campaign space open and orderly.

The final days before voting

For citizens, the practical instruction is simple: check rally and road information against ECZ or police notices, do not circulate claims that cannot be verified and leave any area where rival groups begin to gather. Businesses should confirm staff travel arrangements, supplier routes and a clear rule for early closure if local conditions change.

For political leaders, the standard is higher. Condemn violent language from allies as readily as from opponents. Keep supporters within authorised routes. Use complaints procedures before the street becomes the forum. Zambia has held elections before and will hold them again. No ballot is worth a life, and no short-term campaign advantage is worth weakening confidence in the institutions that must still govern on 14 August.

Key takeaways

• Thabo Kawana has appealed for peace and compliance with the agreed campaign schedule before the 13 August vote.
• His allegation that unnamed political actors intend to provoke clashes in Lusaka and Copperbelt has not been independently verified.
• ECZ and the police should publish the relevant schedule, explain any approved changes and enforce the rules evenly.
• Orderly campaigning protects voters and reduces disruption to commerce, freight movement and investor confidence.

Editor’s note: This report is based on a statement supplied to The Zambian Economist and has been supplemented with official ECZ, SADC, ZamStats and Bank of Zambia material. The allegation concerning a plan to provoke clashes remains unverified.

Photo credit: Thabo Kawana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Media.

Related coverage

• The Economics of Zambia’s 2026 Election
• ZAF Prays for Peaceful Elections Ahead of Zambia’s 2026 Vote
• What Investors Are Watching as Zambia Heads to the Polls
• What the Next Government Inherits

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material and all other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior express permission of The Zambian Economist. Where permission is granted, the content must be clearly credited to “The Zambian Economist,” with “www.zambianeconomist.com” prominently displayed.

WhatsApp: +260775574228 | Email: info@zambianeconomist.com
© 2026 The Zambian Economist.

Work With The Zambian Economist

• Advertise With Us
• List With Us
• Submit an Article

Government says political violence circulating on social media in the run-up to the 13 August election is being deliberately staged by cadres to provoke police into using teargas, and has accused Hot FM’s breakfast show of operating as a de facto public relations outlet for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP).

The claims came from Permanent Secretary for Information and Media Thabo Kawana, speaking alongside his Home Affairs and Internal Security counterpart, Dickson Matembo, at a joint press briefing at the Ministry of Information and Media on 6 August 2026.

Government alleges violence is being staged in three provinces

Kawana told journalists that recent scenes of political violence circulating on various media platforms are “orchestrated, planned, practiced, rehearsed, and systematically implemented by irresponsible cadres,” and alleged that some actors are attacking their own side to pin blame on the ruling party.

He said intelligence reports point to Western, North-Western and Southern Provinces as targets for further “stage-managed disruptions,” and urged young people not to be used as tools of violence. Kawana said the government’s position aligns with President Hakainde Hichilema’s stated opposition to violence, and warned that anyone found taking part, paid or otherwise, will face the law.

These are allegations from a single government source. The Zambian Economist has not independently verified the intelligence reports Kawana referenced, and no evidence was presented at the briefing beyond his statement.

NRC mobile registration officers to be paid for phase two

On a separate administrative matter, Kawana confirmed that government has begun disbursing payments to officers who worked on the second phase of the mobile National Registration Card (NRC) issuance exercise, and said outstanding amounts for that phase are being processed.

Government accuses Hot FM of running undisclosed political adverts for NRPUP

Kawana singled out Hot FM Radio, saying its breakfast show has turned into what he called a de-campaigning platform against President Hichilema, and alleged the station is “practically operating as a public relations unit” for Brian Mundubile’s NRPUP.

Kawana challenged NRPUP to produce proof of payment for political adverts and airtime he said are being run “under the guise of independent broadcasting,” and said government supports media freedom but expects professionalism and transparency from broadcasters.

These are allegations, not established fact. The Zambian Economist has not seen documentation of any advert payments, paid or unpaid, and could not immediately reach Hot FM or NRPUP for comment. This article will be updated if a response is received.

What this means for business and investors

Public disputes between government and named media houses during an election period tend to feed into the kind of political-risk assessments investors and ratings agencies watch closely, alongside actual security incidents. Businesses with operations or advertising spend tied to broadcast media should note that regulatory scrutiny of specific stations can move quickly once a government official names them publicly.

For businesses with operations in Western, North-Western and Southern Provinces, the government’s specific naming of these areas as targets for alleged disruption is worth factoring into short-term logistics and staff safety planning through the 13 August vote.

Related coverage

• IG Musamba Orders Arrest of Political Violence Suspects, Reviews Mongu Police Operation
• Hichilema vs Mundubile: Zambia’s Two-Horse Race, Seven Days Out
• Ballot Papers Arrive in Livingstone Ahead of August Polls

Key takeaways

• Government alleges political violence circulating on social media is being staged by cadres, with Western, North-Western and Southern Provinces flagged as targets.
• Payments to phase-two mobile NRC registration officers have started, with outstanding amounts being processed.
• Government has accused Hot FM of running undisclosed NRPUP political adverts and challenged the party to produce proof of payment; Hot FM and NRPUP have not yet responded.
• The election is scheduled for 13 August 2026.

Related: Mundubile Says National Reconciliation Will Be NRPUP’s First 100-Day Priority

]]> https://zambianeconomist.com/government-blames-cadres-election-violence-hot-fm-nrpup/feed/ 0 https://zambianeconomist.com/zaf-prays-peaceful-elections-zambia-2026/ https://zambianeconomist.com/zaf-prays-peaceful-elections-zambia-2026/#respond Sun, 02 Aug 2026 07:30:12 +0000 https://zambianeconomist.com/zaf-prays-peaceful-elections-zambia-2026/ The Zambia Air Force has held a special intercessory prayer service in Lusaka, calling for peace, unity and credible elections as Zambia approaches the 2026 general election.

The Friday evening service at the ZAF Chamba Valley Officers’ Mess was officiated by Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni and attended by service personnel, civilian staff, members of the Air Power Ladies Club and their families.

Faith, preparedness and national security

Addressing personnel and their families, Lt Gen Nyoni said national security depends not only on military preparedness but also on faith in God. He urged Zambians to remain united and prayed for a peaceful, credible and orderly electoral process.

The commander also sought God’s guidance for the country’s leaders and citizens, saying Zambia should preserve its long-standing commitment to peace and national unity throughout the electoral period. That message is relevant beyond the barracks: political stability and clear institutions help households plan, businesses protect jobs and investors assess risk. Read our wider series on the economics of Zambia’s 2026 election.



“Resting the Heart and Mind in God’s Peace”

The service was held under the theme, “Resting the Heart and Mind in God’s Peace”. Lt Gen Nyoni said it reflected the pressures faced by military personnel, whose duties often test their resilience and resolve.

In her sermon, Acting Director General of Chaplaincy Colonel Reverend Judith Mutale encouraged personnel to seek lasting inner peace through God, saying the world can offer only temporary peace.



Why a peaceful election matters for Zambia’s economy

Peaceful elections are primarily a democratic and security priority, but they also carry practical economic consequences. An orderly campaign and voting period reduces disruption to transport, retail activity and working hours, while credible institutions can limit the uncertainty that delays investment and purchasing decisions.

Companies should nevertheless maintain proportionate continuity plans for election week, including staff transport, supplier communication, cash-flow management and verified information channels. Our guide on how Zambian businesses should plan for the election period offers a practical checklist, while our analysis of policy certainty, investment and employment explains the longer-term link between governance and growth.



Intercessions for leaders and families

The event concluded with intercessory prayers for the country’s leadership and for a peaceful electoral process before, during and after voting. Prayers were also offered for the Zambia Air Force chain of command and military families.

Music was led by gospel artist Ephraim, popularly known as the Son of Africa, alongside the Zambia Air Force Choir.

The call for peace complements other institutional preparations ahead of voting, including the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s ballot paper distribution process. Readers can also explore our Election 2026 Economics coverage.

The Judiciary has echoed that same push for a credible process: read our report on Chief Justice Malila’s call for judicial independence in resolving 2026 election disputes.

---

Photo credit: Zambia Air Force (ZAF).

Have relevant analysis or verified reporting to contribute? Submit an article. Organisations seeking to reach Zambia’s business and policy audience can also advertise with The Zambian Economist.

In related election-logistics news, ballot papers have arrived in Livingstone District for the Central and Maramba constituencies ahead of the August 13 vote.

---

Grow with The Zambian Economist

Put your organisation, opportunity or expertise in front of Zambia’s business and policy audience:

• List your company in our business directory.
• Advertise with us and reach decision-makers, investors and entrepreneurs.
• Discover business events or submit your event for listing.
• Become a contributor by submitting an original article.

For a full side-by-side of both campaigns, see our analysis comparing Hichilema’s record with Mundubile’s Tonse Alliance platform.

]]> https://zambianeconomist.com/zaf-prays-peaceful-elections-zambia-2026/feed/ 0