The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cautioned that political violence could discourage voter participation and undermine confidence in the electoral process ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Elections. ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Brown Kasaro, says there is no…

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cautioned that political violence could discourage voter participation and undermine confidence in the electoral process ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Elections.

ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Brown Kasaro, says there is no justification for any form of violence during an election, as candidates and political parties have been given an opportunity to compete peacefully.

Speaking during the  2026 Election Update Programme, Mr Kasaro said isolated incidents of violence had been recorded during the campaign period, with the Police intervening to restore order and deal with alleged perpetrators.

“There is no justification for any form of violence in an election. Candidates and political parties have been given an opportunity to compete, and ultimately, the people will make a choice,” he said.

He noted that the ECZ had, in some instances, suspended campaigns in areas where violence had occurred, adding that the suspensions were lifted once order was restored.

Mr Kasaro said political violence could negatively affect voter participation by creating fear among citizens and preventing them from freely engaging in the electoral process.

He said the Commission had also introduced a presidential campaign timetable to bring order to the campaign process and minimise clashes among competing candidates.

“The objective of the Commission was to bring order to the campaign process of the presidential candidates, and having understood the rationale, the presidential candidates agreed to the arrangement,” Mr Kasaro said.

He said the arrangement had largely helped candidates to campaign in designated areas and reduced the possibility of clashes between them.

Mr Kasaro urged political parties, candidates, civil society organisations and members of the public to promote peaceful campaigns and allow voters to listen to competing messages before making their choice.

He said the ECZ remained open to engaging political parties, civil society organisations, the Church and other stakeholders to address concerns arising during the electoral process.

Meanwhile, Mr Kasaro said the printing of ballot papers had been completed, with the first consignment expected to arrive in Zambia on Sunday, July 26, 2026 and the entire consignment expected before the end of July.

He said the arrival of the ballot papers will be open to observation by political parties, presidential candidates and other accredited stakeholders to enhance transparency in the electoral process.

Mr Kasaro said there would be no surprises during the election, as the number of registered voters, polling stations, candidates and procedures for voting, counting and announcing results were already known.

“The country can be very confident that we are going to oversee a credible election. The ingredients are there, and there will be no surprises because the procedures have been laid out,” he said.