1. Background
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z), through the Kuteteza Masankho Project, presents its post-election statement on Zambia’s 2026 General Elections held on 13th August 2026. This statement is based on evidence gathered through our long-term and short-term election monitoring that was conducted across the entire country.
TI-Z monitored the electoral process, including the pre-election period, candidate nominations, campaigning, polling, counting, constituency-level results tabulation, and the announcement of results. The TI-Z election monitoring team assessed key aspects of the electoral process, including electoral violence and intimidation, campaign conduct, political and campaign financing, the participation of women, media coverage, digital rights, civic space, polling procedures, and results management.
During the 2026 General Elections, TI-Z deployed a total of 203 monitors comprising long-term monitors, short-term monitors, and TI-Z members. Of these, 167 monitors were geographically distributed across all 10 provinces and 112 of Zambia’s 116 districts, enabling broad coverage of the electoral process throughout the country.
2. Legal Framework and Electoral System
The 2026 General Elections were governed principally by the Constitution of Zambia, the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016, as amended, including by Act No. 12 of 2026, the Electoral Code of Conduct, and subsidiary electoral regulations. Other relevant legislation included laws governing public gatherings, access to information, personal data protection, cybersecurity, and cybercrime.
The 2026 elections were the first general elections conducted following the enactment of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025. The amendment introduced a mixed-member electoral system comprising 226 constituency-based National Assembly seats elected through the first-past-the-post system and 40 proportional representation seats, including 20 seats reserved for women, 15 for youths, and 5 for persons with disabilities. These proportional representation seats will be allocated to qualifying political parties in proportion to the valid votes received by their presidential candidates.
While TI-Z recognizes the adequacy of the legal framework for the conduct of the main stages of the electoral process, significant weaknesses arose from inconsistent enforcement of electoral laws, limited regulation of campaign financing, and uneven application of electoral procedures.
TI-Z also observed implementation gaps due to inadequate communication regarding exceptional decisions and uncertainty surrounding the role of security personnel in results management, which was contrary to international and regional good practice and limited public awareness and understanding of certain aspects of the new system.
Furthermore, the constitutionally mandated legislation on political parties and political finance had not been enacted by the time of the elections. This gap undermined transparency, public accountability, and the principle of a level playing field among electoral contestants.
3. Electoral Administration
TI-Z acknowledges several positive measures undertaken by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) during the electoral process. These included voter education initiatives, the recruitment and deployment of voter educators, radio and television programming under the Count Me In initiative, and the accreditation of political parties, civil society organizations, election observers, and members of the media during the ballot-paper printing process.
TI-Z’s sixth election update commended the ECZ for providing timely explanations regarding ballot-paper quantities, excess ballots resulting from booklet production requirements, the retention of withdrawn candidates’ names on ballot papers, and other operational matters. The update also documented stakeholder concerns relating to the timing of ballot-paper arrivals and the financial burden placed on political parties seeking to observe the ballot-printing process outside Zambia.
The third election update reviewed the ECZ’s clarification that the President, when performing official duties as Head of State, would not be subject to the presidential campaign timetable, to which TI-Z responded to highlight the need for a clear distinction between official state functions and party-political campaigning.
These examples demonstrated that proactive communication, transparency, and stakeholder access can strengthen public confidence in sensitive electoral operations. However, a comparable level of openness by the ECZ was not consistently maintained during the counting, constituency-level totalling, and results publication stages of the electoral process.
TI-Z monitors reported delayed dissemination of instructions, inconsistent interpretation and application of procedures, interruptions in the announcement of results, restrictions on stakeholder access at some totalling centres, and delays in publishing officially announced results online. Such challenges affected transparency and contributed to uncertainty during critical stages of results management.
To enhance public confidence and ensure legal certainty, exceptional decisions with nationwide implications should be communicated comprehensively and transparently. Such communication should clearly specify the legal authority under which the decision is made, its scope, the activities affected, implementation procedures, chain-of-custody requirements where applicable, the duration of the measures, and the conditions governing the resumption of normal processes.
4. Nomination of Candidates
The 2025 amendment to Article 52 of the Constitution provides that where a duly nominated candidate resigns or is disqualified after the close of nominations, the election proceeds without that candidate. However, where a political party’s sponsored candidate dies before polling day, fresh nominations are called.
While these provisions provide certainty regarding electoral timelines, they also raise concerns about the ability of political parties to maintain effective participation in the event of candidate withdrawal. During the nomination and early campaign period, TI-Z received reports that some aspiring candidates were offered financial inducements to withdraw from the race and support competing candidates. One report concerned an alleged offer of K800,000, which the aspiring candidate reportedly declined.
While these reports require thorough investigation by the relevant authorities, they highlight a potential vulnerability within the electoral framework. In circumstances where a nominated candidate withdraws after the close of nominations, the affected political party is unable to nominate a replacement candidate. Consequently, acts of bribery, intimidation, coercion, or undue influence aimed at securing candidate withdrawals could undermine political competition and deprive voters of a wider scope of electoral choices to select from.
The 2026 General Elections were also unprecedented in that seven parliamentary seats were won unopposed, all in constituencies considered strongholds of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND). This development warrants further examination to determine the factors that contributed to the absence of electoral competition in these constituencies and its implications for democratic participation and voter choice.
TI-Z further recorded incidents of violence, restrictions on political activities, and the destruction of campaign materials affecting candidates and political parties. Such incidents increased the financial and personal risks associated with seeking public office and disproportionately affected independent candidates and those with limited resources. These practices undermine the principles of political pluralism and equal participation and may discourage broader engagement in the democratic process.
To strengthen transparency, inclusivity, and public confidence in candidate selection processes, political parties should publish their adoption procedures, apply transparent and merit-based nomination criteria, establish effective internal appeals mechanisms, and publicly disclose candidate nomination data disaggregated by sex, age, and disability status. Such measures would promote accountability, enhance public trust, and support greater representation of underrepresented groups in elected office.
5. Campaign Environment
The campaign environment was competitive and varied across the country. While most campaign activities were conducted peacefully, the period was also characterized by incidents of political violence, intimidation, restrictions on political activities, destruction of campaign materials, divisive rhetoric, allegations of vote buying, partisan conduct by some public officials and traditional leaders, and concerns regarding selective enforcement of electoral laws.
Between May and June 2026, TI-Z monitored 218 electoral events, of which 159 (73%) were assessed as peaceful. The monitoring also recorded incidents of political intimidation, violence, restrictions on political activities, and tensions with the potential to escalate.
TI-Z further observed allegations of financial inducements, vandalism of campaign materials belonging to independent candidates, and a generally subdued campaign environment marked by limited political engagement and delayed publication of party manifestos.
Political discourse frequently focused on personalities, historical grievances, and attacks on opponents rather than substantive policy issues. Some campaign messages risked reinforcing ethnic, regional, and tribal divisions.
Furthermore, campaign finance transparency remained limited, with only 79 of 468 targeted parliamentary candidates voluntarily disclosing campaign finance information through TI-Z’s monitoring platform. Overall, the campaign period was characterized by an uneven playing field, with notable disparities in resources and incumbency advantages favoring the ruling party.
Nevertheless, both the UPND and the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance conducted visible campaigns, providing voters with competing political choices. The ECZ also introduced campaign timetables for presidential candidates, aimed at reducing electoral violence. However, concerns were raised that these measures excluded the President and Vice President and restricted the freedom of movement and campaign activities of other presidential contestants.
6. Media Coverage
The media played a critical role in voter education, campaign coverage, scrutiny of electoral institutions, and the dissemination of election results. TI-Z commends journalists and media houses that operated in a highly competitive and, at times, challenging environment.
Radio remained particularly important in reaching communities with limited internet access, while television, print, and online media contributed significantly to public debate and voter awareness.
However, TI-Z noted persistent concerns regarding unequal access and biased coverage by some state, private and print media houses. State-owned media have a responsibility to provide equitable and impartial coverage to all electoral contestants, while private media are expected to remain professional and non-partisan during elections.
The distinction between government communication and ruling-party campaigning was not always clear, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards to ensure fairness. While TI-Z did not conduct a comprehensive quantitative media assessment, its findings underscore the importance of enhancing transparency in political advertising, protecting journalists, ensuring equal access to electoral information, and maintaining a clear separation between government communication and partisan political activities.
7. Women’s Participation
The introduction of 20 proportional representation seats for women was a positive step towards improving inclusion in Zambia’s political system. However, women remained significantly underrepresented in elective positions and senior party leadership, with only one woman contesting the presidency.
Structural barriers, including high campaign costs, limited access to financing, political violence, harassment, unequal media exposure, and male-dominated party structures, continued to hinder women’s participation.
TI-Z emphasises that reserved seats should complement, rather than replace, women’s participation in constituency-based elections and calls on political parties to adopt transparent, inclusive nomination processes and measurable targets to promote greater gender representation.
Women’s political participation is not only a matter of representation but also a fundamental component of electoral integrity and democratic governance.
8. Civic Space Infringements
TI-Z’s incident-monitoring system recorded 998 reports submitted by 121 active monitors across 82 districts. While the majority of reports described the environment as peaceful, 104 incidents involved tension, violence, intimidation, restrictions, and other election-related concerns.
These reports point to challenges affecting fundamental freedoms, including freedom of assembly, expression, political participation, and independent election observation. These incidents also included disruptions of political meetings, intimidation of candidates and supporters, destruction of campaign materials, and restrictions on accredited stakeholders during results management.
TI-Z calls on law enforcement agencies, including the Zambia Police Service, to improve collaboration with other stakeholders and enforcement of existing laws. However, this mandate must be exercised impartially, professionally, and in accordance with the law, ensuring that lawful political activity is protected and that no political actor gains an unfair advantage through the actions of state institutions.
10. Polling Day Procedures
TI-Z’s polling-day morning observation covered 284 submissions from 184 polling stations across 132 constituencies, 90 districts, and all 10 provinces.
The findings indicated that 70% of observed polling stations opened on time, while the majority reported the presence of police officers (75%), ruling party agents (75%), opposition party agents (74%), and other election monitors (75%).
Overall, 74% of responses across key procedural indicators were consistent with expected electoral procedures. Compliance was strongest in voter identification and ballot management processes, while challenges were noted regarding timely opening of polling stations and the presence of armed police officers.
These findings reflect the situation in TI-Z’s monitoring coverage and should not be interpreted as a statistically representative assessment of all polling stations nationwide.
11. Results Integrity Assessment
To assess the credibility and integrity of the election results process, TI-Z applied its Integrity Index, a methodology first introduced during the 2021 General Elections.
The final Incident-Weighted Integrity Index produced a national score of 61.73%, based on assessments from 221 of Zambia’s 226 constituencies. Although the aggregate variation between ECZ-announced results and those documented by TI-Z monitors was relatively small, at approximately 1.1%, the final assessment identified concerns in 32 constituencies arising from procedural irregularities.
The procedural irregularities documented included the delivery of unsealed ballot boxes to some totalling centres, delays or failures in issuing Gen 20 forms, inconsistencies in vote calculations, failure to announce presidential results at constituency totalling centres, and transmission of results to the ECZ, in Lusaka, before local declarations were made.
TI-Z observed notable misinterpretation of the Integrity Index by selected media houses, political parties and other stakeholders. The Integrity Index is an analytical and risk-based accountability tool rather than a legal determination of electoral validity.
Accordingly, the final score of 61.73% should not be interpreted as meaning that 61.73% of the ballots were completely valid or that 38.27% were invalid. Rather, it reflects the cumulative impact of identified discrepancies and procedural incidents and serves as an indicator of constituency results requiring further scrutiny.
The Integrity Index also identifies areas requiring enhanced transparency, accountability, and electoral reform in results management. The Index therefore provides an evidence-based mechanism for strengthening transparency and improving future electoral processes and should be understood in that respect.
12. Engagement with the ECZ
Following observations made during the results-management process, TI-Z formally wrote to the ECZ on 14 August 2026 seeking clarification regarding the transmission and verification of Gen 20 forms prior to their signing and announcement at constituency totalling centres.
The ECZ subsequently responded in writing on 16 August 2026, outlining the Commission’s official results-management procedures and clarifying the distinction between constituency-level counting and the national aggregation and declaration of results.
While TI-Z acknowledged and welcomed the response, it concluded that the explanation did not fully address several operational concerns documented by its monitors. These included prolonged interruptions in the results process, inconsistent instructions issued at some centres, restrictions on observer access, the involvement of security personnel in managing certain centres, uncertainty regarding election materials, and delays in publishing announced results.
TI-Z remains committed to constructive engagement with the ECZ and other stakeholders. Our objective is to ensure that lessons and evidence emerging from the 2026 elections contribute to the strengthening of electoral safeguards, greater transparency, and the consistent application of results-management procedures in future elections.
14. Recommendations
- The ECZ should conduct a transparent review of the validity of election results in the 32 flagged constituencies that recorded notable discrepancies and process incidents. TI-Z also calls on the ECZ to publish the polling station results from all constituencies in an accessible and machine-readable format to allow for independent scrutiny.
- The ECZ should publish a standard operating procedure for constituency and national results verification and management, clearly specifying that Gen 20 forms should only be transmitted to the ECZ National Totalling Centre after results are announced and shared with stakeholders in each constituency.
- Returning Officers should periodically share logs of proceedings to ensure that polling agents, monitors, and observers accurately capture the results from all polling stations. Furthermore, they should ensure that Gen 20 forms are signed and shared with stakeholders before the announcement of all results, including presidential results at totalling centres.
- The ECZ should adopt a written and public protocol governing any suspension and resumption of counting, verification, totalling or announcements. The protocol should provide guidance on the management of suspension logs, recording of the results already processed, opened and unopened materials, number of sealed ballot boxes, unresolved disputes, and custody arrangements.
- Media houses should report accurately and ensure fair access and unbiased coverage during the election period. State media should ensure that all political parties are given fair and equitable coverage, while private media should avoid taking partisan positions.
- The Zambian Government should also strengthen laws governing political and campaign financing, including disclosure of campaign funding, expenditure and donations. The law should provide safeguards against the intimidation of legitimate funders of political parties.
- The Anti-Corruption Commission should upscale efforts aimed at combatting bribery, intimidation, or manipulation of nominated candidates. This is because the withdrawal of nominated candidates from elections compromises democratic competition and may have serious impacts on democratic outcomes.
- Political parties should embrace greater transparency in the adoption of candidates and ensure that adoptions are finalised at least two months before the nomination period. In doing so, political parties should publish candidate-selection procedures and adopt measurable targets for women, youths and persons with disabilities.
- Law enforcement agencies, including the Zambia Police Service, should investigate electoral violence and intimidation promptly, impartially and transparently. Furthermore, political parties should discipline members involved in violence, hate speech, intimidation or destruction of campaign materials.
- Law enforcement agencies and other oversight bodies should provide a conducive civic space before, during and after elections. Laws regulating public gatherings, cybercrimes, and cybersecurity should not suppress lawful assembly, criticism, journalism or political participation.
TI-Z remains committed to working with the ECZ, Parliament, political parties, law enforcement agencies, the media, civil society, international organisations and citizens to strengthen the integrity of Zambia’s elections.
Electoral reform should begin now and should be pursued transparently throughout the electoral cycle.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
