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ELECTION CREDIBLE, BUT FLAGS GAPS

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CCMG flags intimidation, voting irregularities, poor accessibility, observer accreditation challenges and disruptions during counting, despite describing the overall election-day process as largely transparent and well conducted. By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka, Zambia24 -- 14-08-2026 -- The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) has described Zambia’s 2026 general election as largely credible and transparent but flagged intimidation, voting irregularities, poor accessibility, accreditation challenges and disruptions during counting as notable gaps in the electoral process. CCMG Steering Committee spokesperson Fr. James Phiri said the group’s preliminary assessment showed that most election-day procedures were followed across the country, although isolated incidents raised concerns about the conduct of some political actors and the ability of some citizens and observers to participate fully in the process. Fr. Phiri was reading the preliminary statement on behalf of CCMG yesterday af...
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Zambia poll sees outbreak of violence

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Ziko Lathu Consortium raises fresh concerns over delays, violence, missing materials and interference as counting begins By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  -- 14-08-2026 -- The Ziko Lathu Consortium has raised fresh concerns over disruptions, violence, inadequate electoral materials and interference reported at some polling stations as Zambia moved from voting to the counting and results-management phase of the 2026 General Elections. Speaking during the consortium’s final media briefing of the day, ActionAid Zambia Country Director Fides Tembatemba said the concerns were based on reports received and analysed through the consortium’s election-monitoring mechanisms throughout Thursday. The Ziko Lathu Consortium comprises ActionAid Zambia, Panos Institute Southern Africa (PANOS), the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia and Young Women in Action. Tembatemba said that by 21:00 hours, the consort...
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POLLING DELAYS, VIOLENCE MAR VOTING

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Kayanda flags late openings, material shortages, voter secrecy concerns and harassment of journalists as Zambians cast ballots By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  - 13-08-2026 -- The 2026 General Elections have been hit by delays, confusion and isolated cases of violence, with the Ziko Lathu Consortium expressing concern over what it says are problems affecting voters at some polling stations. Speaking during the consortium’s second media briefing, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia representative Austin Kayanda said more than 100 incident reports and over 1,200 checklist submissions had been received and analysed by 16:00 hours. Kayanda said the reports painted a worrying picture in some polling stations, with voters facing late openings, changes of polling venues, shortages of materials, problems with ballot secrecy and harassment of journalists. He said Ndoloka Polling Station in Kasama did not open until 12:15 hours, leaving voters waiting for hours before...
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EARLY POLL HITCHES EMERGE

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Ziko Lathu says voting remains largely peaceful despite delayed openings, ballot material shortages and voter register challenges By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  -- 13-08-2026) -- Early administrative and operational challenges have emerged in Zambia’s 2026 General Elections, with some polling stations opening late, election materials arriving after the scheduled start of voting and some voters facing difficulties linked to the voters’ register. However, the Ziko Lathu Consortium says the overall voting environment remains largely peaceful across the country, with no violence against women, youth or persons with disabilities reported at the time of its first preliminary assessment. The preliminary findings read by Annie Mbewe Anamela, Executive Director of the Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) , on behalf of the Ziko Lathu Consortium during a press briefing at the Global Platform told journalists at a media briefing that the Consortium, compri...
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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN THREATENS DEMOCRACY

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NGOCC condemns attacks on Chongwe East aspiring candidate Anita Kamanga and calls for urgent police action to protect women in politics By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  —   12-08-2026 – Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has condemned what it described as a disturbing pattern of physical, emotional and online attacks targeting Anita Kamanga, an independent aspiring candidate for Chongwe East Constituency. Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe told Zambia24 that NGOCC had received with grave concern a report of Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWE) involving Kamanga, who has reportedly faced harassment since the beginning of her campaign. “Ms. Kamanga and her supporters have been attacked on several occasions while preparing for campaign meetings,” Katebe said. She said that in one incident, the alleged perpetrators reportedly made a false report to Kanakantapa Police Station, claiming to have been victims of violence. According to Katebe, the r...
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UNZALARU DEMANDS FULL BENEFITS

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Union wants Government to release more funds and follow the High Court order in paying UNZA workers By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  —   12-08-2026 -- The University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers’ Union (UNZALARU) has demanded the release of additional funds to clear outstanding terminal benefits owed to UNZA workers, saying members have waited for years to receive their money. UNZALARU President Prof. Andrew Phiri and General Secretary Dominic Liche said Government had committed to clearing all terminal benefits owed to UNZA staff up to 2025 by July 31, 2026. Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche said Government released K358 million as the first disbursement towards benefits that have remained outstanding since 2016, and payments have since started. However, the union leaders said concerns had emerged over how the payments are being made. According to Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche, the payment instructions appear to conflict with a recent High Court judgment directing the Univ...
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DON’T LET POLITICS TEAR ZAMBIA APART

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NGOCC urges candidates and supporters to respect the people’s verdict, reject inflammatory politics and safeguard peace ahead of August 13 polls By Francis Maingaila Lusaka ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 11-08-2026  — The Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to prioritise Zambia’s peace and unity above partisan interests as the country approaches the August 13, 2026 General Elections. NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe says political competition must not be allowed to divide the nation, noting that every election produces both winners and losers. Ms. Katebe has urged all candidates to prepare themselves to accept the verdict of the people, emphasising that elections are determined by voters and not by the interests of individual candidates or political parties. She says candidates who are dissatisfied with the outcome should pursue lawful channels and established dispute-resolution mechanisms to c...
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