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2026-08-17 08:40 UTC → 2026-08-20 04:57 UTC ·
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Ahead of Following the August 13 national general elections, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) accredited over 4,000 local observers to monitor polling stations, particularly in the Lusaka District. During this period, the ECZ revoked the accreditation of Binwell Mpundu, a nominee for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, citing concerns that social media videos of him allegedly making threats of violence could “incite unrest and undermine the peaceful conduct of the electoral process.” Following the elections, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) reported that while the process was “largely calm and orderly,” it was characterized by restrictions on fundamental freedoms and unfair competition. Mission head Michael McNamara noted that last-minute legislative changes and unequal campaign conditions distorted the electoral field. Specific concerns raised by observers included state media bias, cybersecurity laws contributing to self-censorship, and violence against party supporters. Operational issues such as polling station delays, overcrowding, and poor accessibility for people with reduced mobility were also documented. The ECZ had to temporarily suspend Post-election tensions escalated when the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) suspended the vote count in certain districts due to violence against election officials. officials and the theft of ballot boxes. The EU EOM warned that irregularities in the vote-counting process “worsened significantly” following this suspension. Observers noted a decline in the performance of results tabulation, including prolonged pauses at nearly half of the polling stations where staff appeared to await instructions from ECZ headquarters. Furthermore, the EU EOM described a “strong military presence” following the suspension as “intimidating,” which prompted political party representatives and citizen observers to abandon voting centers. Despite these documented irregularities and concerns regarding transparency, the ECZ declared incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema the winner with 60.5% of the vote, ahead of rival Brian Mundubile. The EU has since called for the publication of detailed, polling-station-level results.