Good morning members of the media, distinguished guests, fellow citizens, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to Transparency International Zambia’s fifth Election Monitoring Update under the Kuteteza Masankho Project.
As Zambia draws closer to the 13th August 2026 General Elections, TI-Z continues to monitor the electoral environment across the country through its long-term election observation mission. The issues we raise in these updates are informed by what our monitors deployed across all ten provinces are observing on a day-to-day basis. In bringing these issues to the fore, our intention is to contribute to the promotion of transparency and accountability in the electoral process, and ultimately help to increase public confidence in the process.
For today’s update, the three issues we are focusing on are: the alleged collection of voters’ card numbers and National Registration Card (NRC) details by political actors; a reminder to electoral stakeholders of the commitments they voluntarily made during the 2025 Zambia Anti-Corruption Conference; and the need for political campaigns to remain honest, realistic, and centered on policy proposals rather than unrealistic promises.
1. Alleged Collection of Voters’ Card Numbers and NRC Details
TI-Z election monitors have received reports alleging that members of the United Party for National Development (UPND) have been collecting voters’ card numbers and National Registration Card (NRC) details from members of the public in Luangeni District in Eastern Province, Zambezi and Mwinilunga Districts in North-Western Province, Mansa District in Luapula Province, Monze District in Southern Province, and Kasama District in Northern Province, among other locations.
While TI-Z continues to monitor and verify these reports, the practice in the districts where it has been observed has generated concern among citizens regarding the purpose for which the information is being collected. The secrecy of the ballot is one of the cornerstones of any democratic election. Therefore, any practice that creates the perception that a person’s vote can be tracked, monitored, or linked to information collected by political actors has the potential to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Beyond electoral integrity, the collection of personal information during campaigns also raises important questions regarding privacy, informed consent, and the protection of citizens’ personal data. Political parties should avoid practices that may intimidate voters or create uncertainty about the confidentiality of their vote.
TI-Z therefore calls upon all political parties to respect citizens’ right to vote freely and independently and to refrain from practices that may undermine confidence in the electoral process. We also encourage the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to not only continue sensitizing the public on the secrecy of the ballot being a fundamental principle of citizens’ participation in elections, but also go out of their way to provide regular updates that clarify public concerns and misconceptions surrounding the electoral process. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized and we urge the Commission not to turn a blind eye to it.
2. A Reminder of the 2025 Zambia Anti-Corruption Conference Electoral Integrity Commitments
As Zambia enters the final weeks before the election, TI-Z wishes to remind all electoral stakeholders of the commitments they voluntarily made during the 2025 Zambia Anti-Corruption Conference (ZACC).
At the Conference, political parties, including the UPND, Citizens First, Patriotic Front and others, together with institutions such as the ECZ, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and other governance stakeholders, all pledged to uphold the principles of peace, transparency, and integrity throughout the electoral process.
Under the Peace Pledge, stakeholders committed themselves to rejecting political violence, pursuing grievances through lawful and peaceful means, and conducting issue-based campaigns. Under the Transparency Pledge, they committed to sharing relevant information to enable citizens to make informed electoral decisions and to support the work of election monitors and observers. Under the Integrity Pledge, stakeholders committed to discouraging electoral corruption, rejecting electoral malpractices, and avoiding illicit sources of campaign funding. These commitments should not remain mere declarations made at a conference. They represent a public promise that was made to the Zambian people and should guide the conduct of all stakeholders throughout the remainder of the campaign period and on polling day.
TI-Z therefore calls upon every institution, political party, and candidate that endorsed these commitments to demonstrate them through their actions. The credibility of Zambia’s elections will not be measured by promises made, but by the conduct displayed by stakeholders throughout the electoral process, and living up to any commitments they made is key in that respect.
3. Campaign Promises Must Be Realistic and Manifesto-Based
TI-Z has observed that as campaigns intensify, some candidates across the political divide and at different levels continue to make promises that appear unrealistic, financially unsustainable, or unsupported by their party manifestos. At the same time, public campaign discourse continues to place greater emphasis on personalities, political rhetoric, and criticism of opponents than on explaining practical policy proposals.
Elections provide citizens with an opportunity to assess competing visions for Zambia’s future. To make informed choices, voters need clear, realistic, and achievable policy proposals that address the country’s pressing challenges, including the economy, employment, education, healthcare, agriculture, governance, corruption, and service delivery among others.
While political campaigns are naturally intended to inspire hope, that hope must be grounded in honesty and practicality. Promises that cannot reasonably be implemented risk creating false expectations and ultimately eroding public trust in elected leaders and democratic institutions. TI-Z therefore encourages all political parties and candidates to centre their campaigns on their manifestos, present practical and evidence-based policy proposals, and communicate honestly with the electorate. Citizens deserve campaigns that equip them with the information necessary to make informed choices, rather than exaggerated promises that may never be fulfilled.
Conclusion
As the country draws closer to polling day on the 13th of August, TI-Z wishes to reiterate that safeguarding the integrity of our elections is a shared responsibility, and every stakeholder including political parties, civil society organisations, the media, the ECZ and other state institutions, and indeed the general citizenry must step up to ensure that the electoral process remains credible and one that all stakeholders will trust.
As TI-Z, our monitoring of this process will continue unabated, and it is our hope that the ECZ and other stakeholders will give serious consideration to the issues being brought to the fore. We owe it to posterity to ensure that this electoral process will be one that will be remembered for upholding the rule of law and inspiring public confidence in our democratic institutions.
Thank you and may God bless Zambia.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
For more details, get in touch with the TI-Z Communications Officer, Ms. Zanji Valerie Sinkala, at zsinkala@tizambia.org.zm.
