410 Views As the nation urges closer to the much anticipated August polls, it is always important for citizens to know the documents they should bring with them on the voting day. In previous elections some people have been turned away for various reasons, which include leaving behind relevant documents. The key particulars that one […]

410 Views

As the nation urges closer to the much anticipated August polls, it is always important for citizens to know the documents they should bring with them on the voting day.

In previous elections some people have been turned away for various reasons, which include leaving behind relevant documents.

The key particulars that one must bring with them on the voting day are the voter’s card and the national identity card.

Apparently, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) recently launched the Publicity and Voter Education “Count Me In” Campaign for the 2026 General Election at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

In her address, ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis, SC, emphasized that publicity and voter education are complementary pillars of the campaign.

She explained that while voter education equips citizens with the knowledge they need to effectively participate in elections, publicity ensures that essential electoral information reaches people wherever they are.

The “Count Me In” campaign marks a significant step in ensuring that every eligible citizen is well-informed and empowered to exercise their democratic right to vote.

On another note, ECZ engaged stakeholders on the Electoral Process (Amendment) Act in order to sensitize them on the key provisions of the newly enacted Electoral Process (Amendment) Act No.12 of 2026 which was passed into law in May, 2026.

Zaloumis, SC, stated that in July 2024, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) appointed the Electoral Reform Technical Committee (ERTC) who’s primary mandate was to review electoral laws and administrative policies. Upon completing its work, the ERTC submitted its final report to the government on 22 April 2025.

The report served as a foundational reference during the subsequent review of the Constitution of Zambia, which led to the enactment of the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025.

The amended Constitution notably introduced a Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system, which combines the traditional First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) method with Proportional Representation (PR).

During the meeting, the Commission provided a detailed presentation focusing on Proportional Representation and the various new electoral provisions.

Some of the key provisions in the Act on the PR system include:

i. Participation Guidelines: Procedures for the participation of political parties in the Proportional Representation system.
ii. Seat Distribution: timeline for submission of Party lists and distribution of seats.
iii. Seats for Local Councils: the authority to prescribe the number of PR seats for local Councils.
iv. Allocation Formula: Establishes the specific formula used to allocate seats to each political party.