NDI Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Zambia Offers Recommendations Ahead of Upcoming Polls

Lusaka, Zambia – A pre-election assessment mission deployed to Zambia by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) presented its findings and recommendations ahead of the country’s August 13, 2026, general elections.

“Thirty-five years since the country’s return to multiparty democracy, the Zambian populace is unwavering in its commitment to democratic principles,” said the head of the delegation, His Excellency Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, and Chairman of the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan. “The 2026 general elections are a significant milestone and will test Zambia’s ability to consolidate the democratic gains from the 2021 general elections.”

Zambia has taken important steps to address past electoral challenges and advance constitutional, legislative, and policy reforms, the delegation noted. Significantly, the introduction of a Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) election system aims to increase the representation of marginalized groups in the National Assembly and district councils, while the creation of 70 new constituencies could bring Members of Parliament (MPs) closer to the people. Stakeholders also noted that efforts to rein in party supporters (“cadres”) have lowered the risk of political violence.

At the same time, the reform process only started in earnest in late 2025, limiting the time available to fully consider the implications of reforms, conduct consultations and gather input from election stakeholders, and build political consensus. Further, Zambians expressed concerns about limited political space, the lack of tolerance for divergent views, and the inability of all political parties and candidates to freely contest elections. As with past elections, the arbitrary application of the colonial-era Public Order Act (POA) remains a key concern, as it continues to stifle political activities and undermine a level playing field. A Public Gathering Bill to replace the POA was introduced while the delegation undertook its work, which could address these concerns.

“While many aspects of the 2026 general elections are already set, with just over 100 days until Zambians cast their ballots, there is still a window of opportunity for Zambians to take meaningful steps to demonstrate their desire for participatory, transparent, and accountable elections,” said Gemima Barlow, NDI Regional Director for Southern and East Africa.

The delegation’s report includes nine priority recommendations. Among them, it emphasizes that all candidates and political parties should be able to freely hold political gatherings and campaign rallies across the country, with the police applying the POA impartially and consistently for all parties and candidates to facilitate vibrant political competition.

The report also offers technical recommendations based on international best practices to strengthen proposed amendments to the Election Process Act (EPA) currently under consideration by the National Assembly. These include:

• Requiring parties to submit proportional representation (PR) candidate lists for the National Assembly and district councils before election day as part of the nomination process to enable voters to make informed choices;
• Establishing a clear and easily understood tier system to determine the number of PR seats for each district council and publishing this information in advance of nominations; and 
• Allocating PR seats for district councils based on district-level results to ensure local communities decide for themselves who will be their elected representatives.

The high-level delegation visited Zambia from April 25 to 30 to demonstrate the international community’s support for credible elections; to provide an independent and impartial assessment of pre-election processes and the overall electoral context; and to offer practical and constructive recommendations based on internationally accepted best practices for more participatory, transparent, and accountable elections. The delegation carried out its work on a strictly nonpartisan basis in accordance with Zambian laws and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, adopted at the United Nations in 2005 and endorsed by 65 organizations, including the African Union (AU). The delegation recognizes that it is the Zambian people who will ultimately determine the conduct and credibility of their own elections.

In addition to His Excellency Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the delegation as included Commissioner Lilian B. Mahiri-Zaja, former Vice Chairperson, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kenya; Professor Christina Murray, Professor Emeritus of Constitutional and Human Rights Law, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programs, Yiaga Africa, Nigeria; Gemima Barlow, NDI Director for Southern and East Africa; and Richard L. Klein, NDI Director of Elections.

Over the past 40 years, NDI has conducted more than 250 international election observation missions in 70 countries worldwide.

The full report can be found here.

For press inquiries, please contact:

• In Zambia, Comfort Pingilani, [email protected]
• In Washington, DC, Paulina Chavez Alonzo, [email protected]