EU EOM flags concerns over Zambia election results tabulation
EU EOM flags concerns over Zambia election results tabulation
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has raised serious concerns over the transparency and conduct of Zambia’s 2026 election results tabulation process, saying the quality of the exercise deteriorated significantly after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) suspended the counting and announcement of results on 14 August.
Lusaka, 19 August – The EU mission said tabulation was conducted at all 226 constituency totalling centres, although the process remained ongoing at some centres.
EU observers monitored proceedings at 64 totalling centres and found that the quality of the tabulation process was assessed as very good in 43% of observations before the suspension. Polling agents and citizen observers were present at almost all the centres monitored and were able to follow the entry of results.
However, the mission said the situation changed significantly after the suspension was lifted late on 14 August.
According to the EU EOM, officials at a number of totalling centres failed to immediately record results on tally sheets as required by electoral regulations. The mission also recorded a decline in the number of instances where figures entered into digital results management kits corresponded with those recorded on tally sheets.
Extended breaks were observed in almost half of the centres monitored, with returning officers appearing to wait for instructions from ECZ headquarters before proceeding with the announcement of results
The EU observers also raised concerns over the presence of military personnel at totalling centres following the suspension, saying the heavy military presence was intimidating to many stakeholders and contributed to a reduction in the number of party agents and citizen observers attending the proceedings.
The mission said transparency was assessed as bad or very bad in 12% of observations conducted after the suspension, while only 27% were rated very good.
It also found that figures entered into digital results management kits corresponded with tally sheets in 81% of observations after the suspension, compared with 100% before the suspension.
The EU EOM further reported receiving information about violent incidents at some totalling centres.
In Lusaka, the mission said an armed group reportedly attacked the Makeni totalling centre on 15 August and took almost all polling station results forms.
In Central Province, the mission said credible witnesses reported that alleged UPND cadres raided two of the three totalling centres in Kabwe on 16 August, causing significant disruption to the tabulation process
The EU EOM has also criticised the ECZ for not publishing partial results on its results website, despite the platform having been launched ahead of the election.
The mission said the ECZ had also confirmed that it would not publish disaggregated polling station results.
The EU observers said publishing results broken down by polling station was important for electoral transparency because it would allow political parties, observers and members of the public to compare results recorded at individual polling stations with those ultimately announced at national level.
The ECZ announced preliminary presidential results shortly before 03:00 on 18 August.
The EU EOM has reiterated its call for maximum transparency throughout the remainder of the electoral process, particularly through the publication of results disaggregated by polling station.
The mission remains in Zambia and says its observers are continuing to monitor developments across all 10 provinces.