ELECTION CREDIBLE, BUT FLAGS GAPS
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.
Fr. Phiri was reading the preliminary statement on behalf of CCMG yesterday after the organisation deployed 1,500 stationary monitors and 156 mobile monitors across all provinces, districts and constituencies.
He said CCMG had received reports from 99 percent of its stationary monitors, generating more than 20,000 reports covering the setup of polling stations, voting and counting.
Fr. Phiri said the organisation had also completed its statistically valid Process and Result Verification for Transparency (PRVT), formerly known as parallel vote tabulation, and would release its presidential election estimates after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) announces the official results.
He said the PRVT would provide an independent benchmark for voters and political contestants to determine whether the official presidential results accurately reflected ballots cast at polling stations.
“CCMG has completed its statistically valid PRVT and will share our PRVT results estimates for the presidential election following the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s release of official results,” Fr. Phiri said.
He said 96 percent of polling stations opened by 07:00 hours, with most delays attributed to the late arrival of election materials.
Women accounted for approximately 50 percent of polling officials, although only 35 percent of presiding officers were women.
UPND agents were present at 99 percent of polling stations at opening, while NRPUP agents were present at 84 percent and agents from other political parties at 79 percent.
CCMG said the presence of party agents was generally positive because their participation allows competing political parties to observe the electoral process, but noted that coverage had declined from the 2021 election.
In 2021, UPND and Patriotic Front agents were present at 99 percent of polling stations, while agents from other parties were recorded at 85 percent.
ACCESSIBILITY REMAINS A CONCERN
CCMG also raised concerns over the physical accessibility of polling stations, particularly for persons with disabilities.
Fr. Phiri said 77 percent of polling stations required voters to use stairs or steps, compared with 48 percent in 2021.
He said the increase represented a significant barrier for voters with physical disabilities who may struggle to access polling stations without assistance.
At the same time, the availability of Braille Jackets improved from 44 percent in 2021 to 69 percent in the 2026 election.
CCMG said the improvement in Braille support was encouraging but insufficient to guarantee an inclusive voting environment.
“Significant barriers remain for all Zambians, particularly persons with disabilities, to vote,” Fr. Phiri said.
The group said the findings demonstrated that electoral inclusion was not only about providing voting materials but also ensuring that voters could physically access polling stations and cast their ballots independently and with dignity.
Despite the accessibility challenges, CCMG found that basic voting procedures were largely followed.
At virtually all polling stations, officials checked voters’ fingers for indelible ink, required voters to produce both their National Registration Cards and voter’s cards, and verified their names in the voters’ register.
At 99 percent of polling stations, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters were allowed to move to the front of queues.
VOTING IRREGULARITIES RECORDED
However, the monitors recorded isolated cases of intimidation, sexual harassment, suspected illegal voting and interference with the voting process.
At less than one percent of polling stations, individuals were harassed, intimidated or threatened.
Women were subjected to sexual harassment at one percent of polling stations.
One of the more notable findings was that at eight percent of polling stations, monitors saw five or more men voting on behalf of able-bodied women.
CCMG also reported that at one percent of polling stations, five or more individuals appeared to vote illegally.
At less than one percent of polling stations, five or more eligible voters were turned away, although monitors could not establish whether the voters were at the correct polling stations.
The group further found that at less than one percent of polling stations, someone other than a polling official assisted multiple people to vote.
While the incidents were recorded at a small proportion of polling stations, CCMG said they remained important because the credibility of an election depends not only on the general conduct of voting but also on whether individual voters are able to exercise their rights freely and independently.
COUNTING ALSO HAD GAPS
CCMG said counting was generally transparent, with political party agents and observers present at most polling stations.
NRPUP agents were present at 88 percent of polling stations, UPND agents at 99 percent and agents from other political parties at 81 percent.
At 99 percent of polling stations, polling officials showed presidential ballot papers to party agents and observers before determining their validity.
Ballots were sorted into piles according to candidates at 93 percent of polling stations.
However, seven percent of polling stations recorded cases where presidential ballots were declared invalid despite the voter’s intention being clear.
CCMG said the finding was significant because rejection of ballots where a voter's intention is clear could directly affect the final tally.
The group also found that insufficient lighting affected counting at eight percent of polling stations.
Harassment or intimidation was recorded at one percent of polling stations, while attempts to disrupt counting occurred at two percent.
KALOMO, MAKENI INCIDENTS RAISE CONCERN
CCMG identified three incidents as particularly serious.
At Mwata Secondary School and Green Acres Basic School polling stations in Kalomo Central Constituency, the group reported that UPND cadres chased away election monitors and agents from other political parties, preventing them from observing the counting process.
The incidents were particularly concerning because the removal of monitors and opposition party agents meant that the counting process proceeded without the full presence of independent observers and competing political parties.
At John Laing Primary School in Makeni Constituency, unknown assailants armed with machetes and bats reportedly stormed the polling station at the point when presidential results forms were being issued to party agents.
The timing of the incident raised particular concern because the issuance and verification of results forms is a critical stage in establishing transparency and confidence in the results.
In Masaiti Constituency, Lisomona Secondary School initially received district council ballot papers meant for another polling station, delaying the opening of the station.
The correct ballot papers were eventually delivered and voting proceeded.
ACCREDITATION CHALLENGES
CCMG also criticised difficulties surrounding the accreditation of election observers.
Fr. Phiri said the ECZ’s introduction of an online-only accreditation system two months before the election placed additional burdens on organisations deploying large numbers of monitors.
He said monitors with limited access to the internet and digital devices faced particular difficulties.
Although the ECZ later introduced alternative arrangements and extended the accreditation deadline to August 12, CCMG said the rollout remained inconsistent and was not adequately communicated.
On election day, 11 accredited CCMG monitors were initially prevented from observing proceedings after presiding officers demanded documents beyond the ECZ-issued accreditation cards.
The monitors were eventually allowed into the polling stations after CCMG intervened.
Fr. Phiri said the incidents demonstrated the need for greater consistency and better training among polling officials on accreditation procedures and the rights of accredited observers.
He said citizen observers were an important part of the electoral process because they provide an independent account of what happens at polling stations.
CCMG QUESTIONS RESULTS SUSPENSION
Meanwhile, CCMG expressed concern over the ECZ's decision to suspend the counting and announcement of results, urging the electoral body to maintain open communication with political parties, civil society organisations and the public.
The ECZ has cited security concerns for the suspension.
Fr. Phiri said decisions affecting the results process should involve consultation with key electoral stakeholders.
“Such decisions should be made in consultation with all political parties as well as civil society, including nonpartisan citizen observers, and should serve to enhance security, as well as ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
CCMG said transparency was particularly important at this stage because uncertainty surrounding the results could increase political tensions.
The group therefore urged the ECZ to keep stakeholders and the nation regularly informed about developments in the results process.
PRVT READY FOR RESULTS
The announcement that CCMG has already completed its PRVT is likely to attract significant attention as political parties and the public await the presidential results.
Fr. Phiri said CCMG would release its estimates only after the ECZ announces the official results.
The organisation says the exercise will allow voters and political contestants to independently assess whether the announced results correspond with the ballots recorded at polling stations.
CCMG said fears of a possible internet disruption on election day, similar to what occurred during the 2021 elections, did not materialise.
The group said it would continue monitoring the electoral process through the announcement of results and any subsequent electoral dispute-resolution process.
It will later issue a comprehensive final report containing its overall assessment and recommendations for improving Zambia’s electoral system.
With the country waiting for the presidential results, Fr. Phiri appealed to political parties, their supporters and the wider public to remain calm and avoid actions that could undermine peace.
“CCMG calls for all Zambians to remain calm and peaceful as we await the announcement of official results,” he said.
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