No Grade 12, no nomination as ECZ rolls out online verification system

The move means candidates must confirm their Grade 12 certificates or equivalent qualifications before the Electoral Commission of Zambia accepts their nomination papers ahead of the August 13 polls.

ECZ Executive Director Michael Chilala said the platform, dubbed 2026 Election Confirmations, is designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and convenience in the verification process.

Dr Chilala said the system has already been deployed and will be fully operational from next week Monday until May 11, 2026, giving aspiring candidates a defined window to process their confirmations.

He explained that the online portal allows applicants to verify their results remotely, eliminating the need to physically visit ECZ offices.

The system categorises applicants into three groups: those with results from 1998 to date, those with results from 1997 and earlier, and candidates holding foreign qualifications.

Candidates with results from 1998 onwards are only required to upload a copy of their National Registration Card (NRC), while those with older or combined results must upload both NRC and academic documents. Foreign qualification holders will be required to submit equivalent certification for validation.

All documents must be submitted in PDF format.

Once the verification process is complete, successful applicants will be able to download official confirmation letters, while the Electoral Commission will only access the system to verify the results.

Dr Chilala noted that the service will cost K100 for result verification and K30 for the confirmation letter, with fees remaining unchanged since 2016.

He added that the system was developed internally to reduce congestion, speed up processing, and improve overall efficiency during the election period.

Meanwhile, ECZ has maintained that its 10 service centres across the country will remain operational to assist applicants who may encounter challenges using the online platform.