CIVIL SOCIETY RAISES CONCERNS OVER ZAMBIA’S 2026 ELECTIONS

A broad coalition of Zambian civil society organisations (CSOs) has formally voiced deep apprehensions regarding the country's electoral landscape as the nation counts down to the crucial August 13, 2026 General Elections. In a joint statement issued in Lusaka, prominent civic bodies—including Caritas Zambia, Chapter One Foundation, Transparency International Zambia, and the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection—pointed to systemic challenges that threaten to undermine the credibility and fairness of the upcoming polls. Among the foremost concerns raised by the coalition is the persistence of an uneven political playing field, compounded by allegations that state machinery and government programmes are being leveraged for partisan electoral advantage. Civil society leaders stressed that democratic integrity relies heavily on equitable access to public resources and media coverage for all political contestants. Furthermore, the coalition expressed worry over sporadic incidents of electoral violence and called upon the Zambia Police Service to exercise absolute impartiality when enforcing law and order during the campaign season. The transparency and preparedness of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) also came under close scrutiny. The CSOs urged the electoral body to guarantee absolute openness across all critical phases of the electoral cycle, particularly during polling, vote counting, verification, and results management. Adequate voter education and unhindered access for accredited local and international observers were underscored as vital prerequisites to instilling public confidence and safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot. In response to these anxieties, the coalition made a passionate appeal to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to embrace peace and tolerance, reminding them that Zambia’s hard-earned democratic reputation in the Southern African region must be preserved. Security agencies were likewise reminded of their con