EU Observers Flag Unequal Campaign Conditions In Zambia Election

August 17, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

The European Union Election Observation Mission has raised concerns over unequal campaign conditions and late legal changes surrounding Zambia’s August 13 general election, while describing voting on election day as calm and efficiently administered.

In its preliminary statement released Monday, the mission said voters had a competitive choice and polling staff generally facilitated voting effectively at polling stations observed by its teams. It cautioned, however, that critical stages of the electoral process, including the tabulation of results, remain ongoing.

"The elections offered Zambian voters a competitive choice, and election day was calm overall," said Michael McNamara, chief observer of the EU mission. He added that the wider electoral process took place in an environment that restricted fundamental freedoms, with late legal changes, legal uncertainty and unequal campaign conditions affecting the playing field.

The mission said Zambia’s legal framework provides an adequate basis for democratic elections but criticised the timing of significant changes, including amendments to the electoral system adopted only three months before the vote.

The late changes made it difficult for authorities and electoral stakeholders to implement and understand the revised procedures, according to the observers.

The mission also highlighted concerns over the handling of the electoral process following a pause on Sunday. McNamara said transparency, clear communication and adherence to established procedures would be important for maintaining public confidence.

He called for disaggregated polling-station-level results to be made publicly available.

Reinhold Lopatka, a member of the European Parliament who led its delegation to Zambia, urged political leaders to prevent violence among their supporters and said electoral disputes should be resolved peacefully through established legal procedures.

The EU mission said some legal reforms had strengthened Zambia’s democratic framework, including the introduction of an Access to Information law and the repeal of criminal defamation of the president. Their impact had been limited, however, by implementation gaps and other restrictive measures.

Candidate registration was described as inclusive, transparent and timely, although women remained significantly under-represented among candidates.

The observers also reported that advantages associated with incumbency blurred the distinction between state and political party activities. Campaign-related violence and differences in law-enforcement responses further contributed to unequal conditions, according to the statement.

The media operated with relative freedom, but the mission said recently introduced cyber laws and their application had raised concerns among journalists and online users. State-owned media coverage was also described as heavily biased.

The EU mission said its assessment remains preliminary because vote tabulation and other stages of the electoral process are still underway. It will continue observing the process before issuing its final assessment.

The mission said it is independent and impartial and does not interfere in the electoral process, with its findings based on direct observation and verified information.

Source: FSX Business News