IBA WARNS BROADCASTERS

The Authority says no campaign interviews, speculation on polling day and urges media houses to put accuracy and public interest ahead of the race for election results.

By Francis Maingaila Lusaka ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — 11-08-2026 -- The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has sounded a firm warning to broadcasters ahead of Thursday’s elections, telling them not to turn polling day into a platform for campaign interviews, election predictions or unverified results.

With millions of Zambians expected to cast their ballots on Thursday, the Authority says broadcasters have a big responsibility on their shoulders — to give the public information they can trust at a time when emotions are likely to run high.

IBA Independent Broadcasting Director Webster Malido said the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines, issued in May, were meant to help broadcasters report the elections fairly, accurately and responsibly.

He said the guidelines were not simply about regulating broadcasters, but ensuring that Zambians receive reliable information to help them make informed decisions at the ballot box.

The Authority has, in recent months, held a series of workshops with broadcasters to help journalists and newsrooms understand the election guidelines, as well as the legal and professional standards expected of them.

As polling day draws closer, Malido has urged broadcasters to put those lessons into practice.

“As we approach polling day this coming Thursday, we would like to encourage all broadcasters to reflect on the guidance provided during the capacity-building workshops and apply the knowledge that they gained diligently in their coverage of the elections,” he said.

The IBA has also acknowledged the work done by broadcasters during the campaign, saying most stations have made efforts to follow the election coverage guidelines.

However, the Authority admitted that cases of non-compliance have been recorded.

Despite this, it said the general level of cooperation from broadcasters had been encouraging and urged them not to drop their guard during the final and most sensitive stage of the electoral process.

NO CAMPAIGNING ON ELECTION DAY

For broadcasters, Thursday will not be business as usual.

The IBA says stations should not air campaign interviews featuring political parties or candidates on Election Day.

They are also expected to keep election predictions off the air.

The Authority says all programmes aired on polling day must comply with the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines and existing laws.

Malido also reminded broadcasters that no new opinion poll results should be broadcast before polling closes.

Where an opinion poll is allowed to be broadcast, stations must tell their audiences who conducted and sponsored the poll, when it was conducted, its margin of error, the population covered and the sample size.

The message from the IBA is clear: viewers and listeners should know where election figures are coming from before they are asked to believe them.

‘DON’T BE FIRST — BE RIGHT’

The biggest concern for the Authority appears to be the reporting of election results.

As voting gives way to counting and tallying, broadcasters will be watching events closely and competing to keep their audiences updated.

But the IBA says the pressure to be first must not come at the expense of being right.

Broadcasters may report on voting, counting and tallying, but they should not announce projected, speculative or unverified election results.

The Authority says election results should only be announced once they have been officially declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Malido has also cautioned broadcasters to be particularly careful with information coming from political actors, commentators, social media platforms or even officials whose information has not yet been verified.

The warning comes as social media continues to move information at a frightening speed, with claims capable of reaching thousands of people before newsrooms have had time to establish whether they are true.

For the IBA, that is where responsible journalism matters most.

The Authority wants broadcasters to verify information before putting it on air and to make a clear distinction between what is officially confirmed and what is simply being claimed.

EVERY PARTY DESERVES A FAIR HEARING

The IBA has also reminded broadcasters that election coverage must not leave some political parties and candidates in the shadows.

According to the Authority, all political parties and candidates should be given reasonable opportunities to explain their policies and present their views to voters.

Broadcasters have been urged to remain fair and impartial when conducting interviews and preparing election stories.

They should also make it clear when something is an opinion and when it is a fact.

The Authority has warned against broadcasting material that could fuel hate speech, tribalism, violence, character assassination or the spread of information that has not been verified.

For a country heading into an election, the IBA says careless reporting can have consequences far beyond a single news bulletin.

It has therefore urged broadcasters to handle developing stories and sensitive interviews with care, particularly where tensions are already high.

PUBLIC CAN COMPLAIN

The IBA has also reminded members of the public, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders that they have a channel through which they can challenge unfair or improper election coverage.

Complaints should first be taken to the broadcasting station concerned.

The station is expected to respond within two days during the election period.

If no response is received within that period, or if the complainant is unhappy with the response, the matter can then be taken to the IBA.

The Authority says it will investigate complaints and take action where necessary in line with the law and election coverage guidelines.

IBA TO KEEP WATCH

The Authority says it will continue monitoring election-related broadcasts throughout the electoral process.

Malido said the monitoring was intended to help broadcasters remain within the law, provide guidance where necessary and ensure that election coverage continues to serve the public interest.

As Zambia prepares for Thursday’s vote, the IBA says broadcasters must remember that their role goes beyond simply filling airtime.

They will be carrying information into homes, communities and polling centres at a moment when every word can matter.

The Authority has therefore urged broadcasters to verify election information before putting it on air, avoid spreading reports that could mislead the public and resist anything that could inflame tensions.

Malido said responsible and professional reporting by broadcasters would be an important part of helping Zambia go through the elections peacefully and credibly.

For the media, the message from the regulator is simple: report what is known, verify what is uncertain and never allow the rush for a headline to put the public at risk of being misled.