International observers have started arriving in the country ahead of the August 2026 general elections as preparations for the electoral process intensify.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Corporate Affairs Manager, Patricia Luhanga disclosed this in Lusaka today during the filing of presidential nominations, saying the move is aimed at enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
Ms Luhanga said the Commission has received a pre-election mission from the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries, an organisation of which Zambia is a member.
She said the delegation comprises chairpersons of electoral bodies from Tanzania, Malawi and Namibia, accompanied by technical staff and support teams involved in the preparations for the pre-election mission.
Ms Luhanga explained that the delegation is in the country to observe key electoral activities, including the nomination process.
“In the spirit of transparency, the ECZ has been visited by the Electoral Commissions Forum of the SADC countries, of which the Commission is a member,” she said.
She added that the observers would witness the nomination proceedings as part of their assessment of the country’s electoral preparedness.
The SADC Forum is led by Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, who is also heading the Malawi Electoral Commission.
Ms Luhanga further noted that ECZ had made provisions for international observers, emphasising that their presence is permitted under the electoral process and should not be viewed as unusual.
She also appealed to stakeholders, including political party representatives, to remain calm and observe procedure as the Commission facilitated the nomination process.
Zambia is expected to hold its general elections on August 13, 2026, with political parties and independent candidates currently undertaking various electoral processes ahead of the polls.
Tea and cookies at community house should assist them to say the playing field is level
International observers? Since when did they ever matter? Would they nullify an illegal ballot? Show me one place where they did.
One International observer was once sent from Zambia and he saw his own irregularities in Zimbabwe but who listened to him?
Let the international observers watch ZNBC TV and see how tax payers money is abused by ZNBC which just shows the failed UPND and promoting UPND only. A party so unpopular that it is attracting job seekers and calling them defectors. The unemployment crisis is forcing people to go to UPND looking for opportunities and that is being mistaken for popularity after an alternative party the PF was tactically destabilised
True observation