EARLY POLL HITCHES EMERGE

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, comprising ActionAid Zambia, NGOCC, Panos Institute Southern Africa, MISA Zambia, Young Women in Action and the Global Platform Zambia Network, has deployed monitors across all 10 provinces and 116 districts to observe the electoral process.

According to Anamela, preliminary reports from monitors indicate that voting is generally underway across the country, with observations covering polling station openings, voter assistance, queue management, inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities, accessibility, polling station administration and security.

She said the Consortium had so far not recorded violence against women, youth or persons with disabilities, adding that the polls had remained largely peaceful.

However, some polling stations opened after the scheduled 06:00 hours, with recorded delays ranging from 06:16 to 07:10 hours.

Anamela said Ndoloka Polling Station in Kasama North had not opened by 10:35 hours, leaving voters waiting for polling to commence.

The monitors also reported delays in the delivery of election materials, including a case in Southern Province where materials reportedly arrived at 07:47 hours.

Operational readiness was another concern, with some polling stations reportedly having inadequate or missing voting booths.

The Consortium said polling officials at some stations were forced to improvise alternative arrangements, raising concerns over voter privacy and potentially slowing down the voting process.

Some voters also reportedly failed to cast their ballots because of identification and voter registration-related challenges.

The reported cases included voters whose names could not be found on the voters’ register, voters presenting cards that did not correspond with their assigned polling stations and others attempting to use outdated voter cards.

The monitoring mission further found inconsistencies in the assistance provided to elderly voters and persons with disabilities.

While some polling stations provided the necessary support to facilitate voting, other voters were reportedly overlooked, raising concerns over the uniform application of measures intended to promote inclusive and accessible elections.

Despite these challenges, the Consortium said the overall environment remained calm and orderly.

The Ziko Lathu Consortium said the incidents recorded so far were largely administrative and operational, including delayed polling station openings, late or missing election materials, inadequate voting booths, limited voting streams, queue management concerns, overcrowding and voter register-related problems.

The Consortium said it was channeling matters observed by its monitors to relevant authorities, including the Electoral Commission of Zambia and other duty-bearers, for redress.

It has also called on polling officials, political party agents, security personnel, voters and other election stakeholders to remain calm, patient and cooperative as voting continues.

The Consortium said it would continue monitoring the electoral process to establish whether the challenges recorded so far were isolated incidents or indicative of broader operational trends.

It is expected to issue an updated preliminary statement at 16:00 hours.

The Consortium has reaffirmed its commitment to impartial and evidence-based monitoring throughout the electoral period.