..partisan appointments to ECZ, Judiciary threatens the holding of democratic, credible, transparent, peaceful, free and fair elections…
Friday-10th April 2026
Citizen First Party President, Hon. Harry Kalaba has expressed deep concerns over the state of the electoral process ahead of the general elections scheduled for August 13th 2026.
He has expressed doubt that Zambia may not hold democratic, credible, transparent, peaceful, free and fair elections in light of activities that undermine the electoral process being perpetrated by the Executive ahead of the elections.
In his letter to international organizations and international bodies that include SADC, African Union, EU, USA and others, Kalaba stated that actions by President Hakainde Hichilema are designed to deeply undermine democratic and independent institutions such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) the Judiciary and the Zambia Police.
He has cited the composition of the ECZ which has been packed with ruling party cadres.
He stated that the ECZ should be a neutral, objective and unbiased independent institution in order for it to conduct democratic, transparent, credible, peaceful, free and fair elections, and in order to meet acceptable international standards of an election.
President Hichilema has made new appointments to the ECZ and 40 judges to superiors courts ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
Prior to this the actions of the Police to deny civic and political rights to political parties and CSO was of concern.
The issuance of national identity (NRC) and voter registration was marred with accusations of voter suppression in areas where the Opposition was deemed to be strong.
Below is one of the letters that Hon. Kalaba has written;
10th April 2026
His Excellency Évariste Ndayishimiye
President of the Republic of Burundi
Chairperson of the African Union
Your Excellency,
RE: Concerns Regarding the Integrity of the Electoral Process in Zambia
I have the honour to address you in your esteemed capacity as Chairperson of the African Union.
Your Excellency, as you may recall, the Republic of Zambia has maintained an admirable record of conducting credible, free, and fair elections since the advent of multi-party democracy in 1991, with peaceful transitions of power.
However, it is with deep concern that I bring to your attention recent developments under the administration of His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema, which threaten to undermine this longstanding democratic tradition. We have growing fears that the forthcoming elections scheduled for August 13, 2026, will not meet the standards of credibility, transparency, and fairness.
Concerns regarding the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ):
- The Electoral Commission of Zambia is constitutionally mandated to consist of five commissioners appointed by the President.
- The current composition of the Commission raises serious concerns regarding inclusiveness and regional balance. For the past year, the four serving commissioners have come from the same region, undermining national geographical representation.
- Of these four commissioners, two are strongly affiliated with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND).
- On April 9, 2026—just one week before the commencement of presidential nominations—the President appointed a fifth commissioner, who is known to be aligned with the UPND and has been aspiring to stand on its ticket as a Member of Parliament. Making changes this late in the electoral process coupled with partisan appointments results in three out of five commissioners being affiliated with the ruling party.
This situation represents an unprecedented development in Zambia’s 60-year history and raises serious concerns about the integrity and impartiality of the electoral body.
Concerns regarding potential exclusion of political parties:
Your Excellency, Presidential candidates’ nomination period starts next week on 15th April and while that is taking place, the ECZ is advancing an electoral bill that may disqualify political parties based on alleged failure to demonstrate intra-party democracy, such as holding general conferences and registering office bearers. Late introduction of such bills to parliament may result in disenfranchisement and exclusion of political parties as well as voters.
Further, Governments compliance administrative processes under the Registrar of Societies have proven excessively onerous. In my own case, despite holding a general conference on December 7, 2024, the registration process took approximately 11 months, with certification only completed in November 2025, to render us ready to participate in the August 13, 2026 polls.
Your Excellency, as you may know, free, fair, and transparent elections are the cornerstone of democracy and are firmly enshrined in the principles of the African Union, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Any perceived compromise in electoral integrity not only threatens national stability but also undermines confidence in democratic systems across the continent.
Request for intervention:
- Dispatch an urgent fact-finding or observer mission to Zambia.
- Engage with your counterpart, His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema, on the need to safeguard electoral integrity.
- Encourage measures to restore public confidence in the independence of the Electoral Commission; and
- Urge reconsideration for reversal of the recent commissioner appointment, notwithstanding the politically inclined nature of the latest appointee, but particularly the timing in the electoral cycle rendering inadequate time to train, orient and learn the roles and importance of the ECZ.
Your Excellency, Zambia has long stood as a beacon of democratic stability in Africa. It is our earnest hope that, with your timely intervention, this proud legacy can be preserved.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Harry Kalaba
President, Citizens First Party Zambia
Former Foreign Affairs Minister
“one of the letters” Where are the others?
Regroup as opposition, win elections and fragment yourselves again thereafter if you so wish. However, there is a further requirement to this, sit down now as opposition and put up a realistic economic turnaround plan, have an opposition economic think tank committee formed urgently, we don’t want any guess work. Are you sure the country should still boast to be on course to produce the 1 million metric tonnes of copper and a 12 billion investment in the mines while the people continue to live in absolute poverty and abject squalor with excuse after excuse from the sitting government and you guys in the opposition remain that fragmented.
If the poverty is so bad in Zambia……….
Why are foreigners fighting to go live in Zambia ?????……….
Immigration can’t keep up with deportations and arrests of foreigners want to live in Zambia……….
FWD2041
@spaka
The poverty stricken mindset you are referring to is clearly with the current ruling party. You don’t have to be poor to have that mindset.
They have been in power for five years. They have been toying around with the means to end poverty: the political power. How many citizens have they empowered? None instead they corruptly empower foreign business men
Zambians still thrive on salaula, street selling milking & pilfering of the civil service.
This because citizens are still being fed neo-colonial so called free education designed to produce workers. To work where? They end up jobless. Go see how China empowers its citizens.
Meanwhile the foreign entrepreneur is attracted to no-tax Zambia by corrupt political bureaucrats who just wait for a cut. Yes, only the pompwes in the ruling party escape poverty in Z.
Mayibuye
I don’t understand………
Because I have known many , many foreigners who came broke to Zambia and are now living the life………
Hard work pays off, a few of them even able to buy properties in their countries with money made in Zambia……
That’s why when people talk about Zambia wallowing in poverty, I’m surprised
FWD2041
………
You are already just making excuses for an already foreseen massive electoral landslide win for HH………….
No amount of judiciary or ECZ tinkering can change the minds of Zambians when they are ready for change…………
Ask the previous administration.,……..
Try 2031 , if you start campaigning now……..
We are here
2041
Opposition, please ignore the political comments above from idle UPND cadres and do the needful. Kaya manje is right. This country is too rich to be poor and we see our mineral wealth leaving the country daily with disproportionate income coming in. It was the same in the 1800s when genuine people were saying slave trading and slavery were bad, we still had people saying it was good because they were benefitting
Poverty is in your mind, emancipation from a poverty stricken mindset will save you………….and the opposition
If people are so poor in Zambia, how come foreigners are flooding to live in Zambia ???……..
Immigration can’t keep up as foreigners see Zambia as heaven on earth………
Only the pompwes who want free hand outs see poverty in Zambia
FWD2041
Kalaba and his thugs, a batch of desperate men with a new play book. We know the game and have the blade up your sleeve.
Y’all opposition have proved to me and the rest that y’all are a collection of LOSERS.
GET A LIFE
I’m glad you’re engaging on these important issues. Here’s a concise comment you can post:
Slavery and colonialism remain a disturbing part of our history, and we must not let fear or complacency shape our future. As we approach the August 13, 2026 elections, we must demand credible, transparent, and peaceful processes that honor every African soul. Leadership should empower citizens, protect independent institutions, and uphold the voice of the people not undermine them. Let’s be a generation that says sorry to our coming generations by setting an example: every life matters, every vote counts, and justice for all must guide our path forward.
Slavery and colonialism remain a disturbing part of our history, and we must not let fear or complacency shape our future. As we approach the August 13, 2026 elections, we must demand credible, transparent, and peaceful processes that honor every African soul. Leadership should empower citizens, protect independent institutions, and uphold the voice of the people not undermine them. Let’s be a generation that says sorry to our coming generations by setting an example: every life matters, every vote counts, and justice for all must guide our path forward.
You can smell a Tanzania 2:0
2 point 0 my behind, any law break will be locked up for years if not months.
“…Fragment yourselves thereafter”
That doesn’t sound like progressive politics. If all we are nattering about is just to remove the ruling party we will never go anywhere.
We should be offering the nation alternative working plans compared to what it has, as at now.
We should especially show that we have learnt something from the current situation so as not to repeat the marking time we are on-if we aren’t walking backwards.
Voting in new people just because we dont like the old is a bit like opting for new wine in old wineskins -as has been seen the past 5 wasted years in which we have borrowed more.
Just remove them man
Foreigners Why are foreigners fighting to go live in Zambia @Spaka
To understand this why dont you advertise a huge house sale with everthing priced at Zmw 1.00
That is what is happening here
Tikki
I know many foreigners who came broke to Zambia and worked hard………
Today they are living like kings even able to send money back to their country of origin……..
FWD2041
Losing the election yourself does not mean the electoral process is the problem. Repeat it to yourself a few times. And then seek new ideas for campaigns, better ideas than complaining in advance that you are going to lose
Kalaba Kalaba Kalaba, “fake alarms” as a political tool threatens the stability of the state itself.
We’re recording and will never forget your words.
Just give us your economic plan and stop lamenting already.