EU OBSERVERS SAY ZAMBIA’S 2026 ELECTIONS WERE COMPETITIVE BUT HELD ON AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD
By The Podium current affairs
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has described Zambia’s 13 August 2026 general elections as competitive, while raising concerns over restrictions on fundamental freedoms, late changes to electoral laws, media bias and an uneven campaign environment
The EU EOM presented its preliminary statement in Lusaka on 15 August 2026, stressing that its assessment was not yet final because critical stages of the electoral process, including the tabulation of results and possible adjudication of electoral petitions, were still outstanding.
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The mission said the elections provided voters with a competitive choice, with numerous candidates contesting the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
However, it said fundamental democratic rights were affected by restrictions on the ability of most presidential candidates to campaign.
According to the observers, advantages associated with incumbency also blurred the distinction between the state and political campaigning, contributing to what it described as an uneven playing field.
CONCERNS OVER ELECTORAL LAWS
The EU said Zambia’s recently amended legal framework provided an adequate basis for conducting democratic elections, but expressed concern about the timing of significant changes.
It noted that changes to the electoral system were enacted only about three months before polling day, contrary to international and regional good practice.
The mission said the late amendments reduced public awareness of important aspects of the electoral process and created new legal uncertainties that affected effective inclusion and the exercise of fundamental freedoms.
It further noted that constitutionally mandated laws governing political parties and political financing had not been enacted.
The EU said this undermined transparency, public accountability and a level playing field among political contestants.
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ECZ PRAISED, BUT DELAYS CRITICISED
The European observers said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) managed its operations within the electoral timetable despite the compressed period created by late legal changes.
However, the mission criticised delays in publishing guidelines and regulations, saying they contributed to uncertainty about procedures that candidates, political parties and voters were expected to follow.
The EU also raised concerns about delayed regulations, erroneous training materials and election-day information being withheld from some candidates.
It said the accreditation of observers only began on 21 July, which was too late to fully accommodate long-term observation methodologies and affected citizen observer groups and the EU mission itself.
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VOTER REGISTRATION AND CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS
The mission described voter registration as inclusive but said the process required more robust and continuous efforts.
It noted criticism from some stakeholders over the late deployment of staff and technical difficulties involving digital kits during registration.
The EU also said candidate registration was inclusive, transparent and timely, with 14 candidates contesting the presidential election.
However, it observed that women’s participation among presidential candidates remained minimal.
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CAMPAIGN VIOLENCE AND UNEQUAL CONDITIONS
The EU EOM said the election campaign was lively but limited, with candidates holding rallies, roadshows, events and door-to-door meetings.
For the first time, the ECZ introduced a campaign calendar for presidential candidates aimed at reducing the risk of violence.
However, the mission said the calendar did not apply to the President and Vice-President and restricted some candidates’ freedom of movement and ability to campaign.
It further reported campaign-related violence and alleged involvement of groups traditionally associated with political movements.
According to the mission, the police response to some incidents was not always balanced or adequate.
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STATE MEDIA BIAS
The EU observers also raised concerns over the media environment.
While the media was generally able to operate with relative freedom during the campaign, the mission said recent revisions to cyber laws had created a chilling effect and contributed to increased self-censorship.
The mission further reported that state-owned media was heavily biased towards the ruling party, adding to concerns about the unequal campaign environment.
The EU noted that Zambia had made some positive legal developments, including the Access to Information law and the repeal of criminal defamation of the President, but said the impact of these reforms was limited by implementation gaps and other restrictive measures.
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EU CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY
Chief Observer Michael McNamara said transparency, clear communication and strict adherence to electoral procedures were essential for maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
The EU mission particularly called for polling-station-level results to be made publicly available.
The head of the European Parliament delegation, Reinhold Lopatka, also called on political leaders to ensure their supporters refrained from violence and urged parties and candidates to resolve electoral disputes peacefully through established legal channels.
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PRELIMINARY, NOT FINAL
The EU emphasised that its 15 August statement was preliminary and should not be regarded as its final judgment on Zambia’s 2026 elections.
The mission said it would continue observing the remaining stages of the electoral process, including the tabulation of results and any legal challenges, before producing a final report containing a comprehensive assessment and recommendations for future electoral reforms.
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The EU has maintained election observation missions in Zambia over several electoral cycles, with its 2026 mission operating independently from Zambian authorities, political parties and candidates.
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