New Plan for Zambia's Peaceful Polls

Stakeholders urged to safeguard Zambia’s democratic gains

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia, 23 January 2026 — The Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) on Thursday launched the second phase of its Electoral Dispute Resolution (EDR) programme, aimed at preventing election-related violence and strengthening democratic stability ahead of the August 2026 general elections.

SAIPAR Executive Director Manenga Ndulo said the initiative, supported by the Irish Embassy in Zambia, builds on lessons from the 2021 elections and seeks to make electoral dispute systems more credible, accessible, and trusted by citizens, political parties, and candidates.

“Unresolved electoral disputes remain a serious threat to democracy, often leading to violence, instability, and loss of public confidence in democratic institutions,” Ndulo said.

The new phase brings together local and international partners, including the Chapter One Foundation, the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID).

The collaboration combines legal expertise, election monitoring, inter-party dialogue, and international best practices to develop practical, evidence-based policy recommendations.

Ndulo explained that the programme will track and analyse electoral dispute cases, strengthen the capacity of institutions handling petitions, establish a one-stop advisory centre for legal and procedural guidance, and introduce an artificial intelligence-based early warning system to detect potential electoral conflicts early.

Specialised training will also be provided to adjudicators to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency in handling disputes. He emphasized that local government-level disputes, where conflicts often originate, will receive particular attention due to limited existing dispute resolution capacity.

The launch also highlighted persistent challenges within Zambia’s electoral dispute resolution system, prompting calls for reforms.

These concerns were raised during a stakeholder meeting in Lusaka attended by representatives from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), civil society, and interparty dialogue organizations.

Dr. Obrien Kaaba, a lecturer at the University of Zambia School of Legal Studies, said timing and procedural gaps remain major obstacles in resolving election petitions.

“After elections, people often struggle to locate documents or information necessary to pursue petitions, particularly at local government levels,” he said.

Citing past experiences, including the 2016 elections, Dr. Kaaba noted that citizens and officials faced difficulties accessing vital information about voters and polling areas needed to support petitions.

He also raised concerns about the current legal thresholds for proving electoral irregularities.

“Even one instance of corruption can have a significant impact on results, but the thresholds set in law, such as Section 87’s 95% requirement, make it challenging to act. We need to find a balance between ensuring accountability and enabling fair access to justice,” he said.

Adding to these concerns, Doreen Kabwe of the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) stressed the importance of political parties and citizens understanding the mechanisms available for resolving disputes.

“Capacity building is essential. Political parties and their members need to know their rights under Article 60 and other legal provisions. When stakeholders understand the processes, disputes can be managed early, avoiding escalation and ensuring confidence in the election outcomes,” Kabwe said.

She emphasized that strong institutional capacity ensures that at the end of elections, citizens and stakeholders feel that the process has been fair and transparent.

From the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Mr. Bwalya provided a commissional perspective on election petitions, highlighting procedural challenges that have hindered timely resolution in past polls.

“Citizens are increasingly aware of their rights, but procedural issues remain common. Many matters fail not because of their merits, but because of technicalities in filing and reporting,” he said.

Bwalya also noted that pre-election informal mechanisms exist to resolve disputes before formal petitions are filed, but many citizens and political actors bypass these channels.

“District-level conflict management committees sometimes fail to report issues, which delays timely interventions. Better coordination with police, judiciary, and other authorities is critical,” he said.

The ECZ official further stressed the importance of cooperation between the commission and the judiciary.

“When the judiciary understands how electoral processes work, it can deliver properly reasoned judgments. This is especially important as we prepare for the January 2026 elections,” he said.

Civil society experts also highlighted the marginalization of ordinary citizens in the dispute resolution process.

Tinenenji Banda argued that petitions often act as proxies rather than genuinely representing the people. “Citizens are left out of the process. Judicial outcomes must reflect their interests, not just those of political elites. 

The law belongs to the public, and the people’s voice should be central to electoral justice,” Banda said.

He further noted that this exclusion has led to frustration among voters over the years. 

“The focus has often been on political power rather than citizen representation, which risks undermining public confidence in electoral outcomes,” he said.

Stakeholders concluded that reforms are needed to strengthen Zambia’s electoral dispute resolution mechanisms.

Recommendations included improving public awareness and understanding of dispute resolution processes; enhancing institutional capacity at national and district levels; revising overly high thresholds for proving electoral irregularities; strengthening coordination between the ECZ, judiciary, and law enforcement; and ensuring citizens are directly engaged in electoral justice processes. 

These steps, according to experts, are crucial to ensuring credible, transparent, and peaceful elections in 2026, while fostering confidence among citizens and political actors alike.

Irish Ambassador to Zambia, Aidan FitzPatrick, lauded Zambia’s record of peaceful elections, noting that the country has held 10 successful multi-party elections since 1991. 

He called Zambia a “beacon of democracy” in Africa but cautioned that democratic stability must be actively safeguarded.

“Public confidence in elections depends not only on accurate results but also on the ability to resolve disputes fairly, transparently, and without violence,” Ambassador FitzPatrick said. 

Drawing on his experience in post-conflict countries like Sierra Leone, he highlighted the long-term consequences of unresolved disputes, stressing that peace is essential for stability, development, and effective governance.

Ambassador FitzPatrick reaffirmed Ireland’s support for SAIPAR’s second-phase EDR programme. 

“We are proud to support SAIPAR and its partners in strengthening Zambia’s electoral process,” he said. 

“All materials will be publicly accessible online, ensuring transparency and credibility.”

Looking ahead to the August 2026 elections, he expressed confidence in Zambia’s democratic institutions. 

“Political tensions are natural in any democracy, but Zambia has consistently managed disputes through dialogue and strong institutions. I am confident that the country will conduct transparent and peaceful elections,” FitzPatrick said.

Both Ndulo and FitzPatrick urged key stakeholders—including the ECZ, the Judiciary, civil society, the media, and political parties—to work closely with SAIPAR and its partners to protect Zambia’s democratic gains.

The SAIPAR EDR programme directly addresses these challenges by improving public access to electoral information, strengthening institutional and adjudicator capacity, providing training to political parties and citizens on legal rights, and fostering coordination between the ECZ, judiciary, and law enforcement. 

By integrating AI-based early warning systems and advisory services, the initiative aims to prevent disputes from escalating, ensure citizen voices are represented, and support fair, transparent, and credible elections in 2026.

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