ECZ says all ballot papers will be flown from Dubai directly to Lusaka The Electoral Commission of Zambia has assured that every ballot paper for next month’s general election will arrive by air on a chartered aircraft flying directly from Dubai to Kenneth Kaunda International…

ECZ says all ballot papers will be flown from Dubai directly to Lusaka

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has assured that every ballot paper for next month’s general election will arrive by air on a chartered aircraft flying directly from Dubai to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, with printing taking place under strict security in the United Arab Emirates.

The Commission said preparations for the 13 August polls are progressing smoothly, with ballot papers printed under close scrutiny at Al Gurair Printing and Publishing in Dubai. The process is being witnessed by representatives of political parties and members of the media, in line with the Commission’s stated commitment to transparency and accountability.

In a statement issued in Lusaka, the Commission said the dispatch schedule for the chartered flight will be communicated in due course, with all stakeholders invited to witness the arrival and verification of the ballot papers before distribution to respective districts.

Officials moved to clarify confusion over separate election-related shipments entering the country by road, stressing that these consignments do not include ballot papers. “The election materials entering the country through various border posts are not ballot papers. These are supplementary materials required for the conduct of the election and should not be confused with ballot papers, which will be transported separately by air under secure arrangements,” the Commission stated.

Supplementary materials entering by road will pass mainly through the Nakonde, Chirundu and Livingstone border posts, and include polling booth sets, ballot boxes with coloured lids, rejected and self-inking stamps, election-branded jackets, lamp batteries, foldable chairs and tables, and official marks. Most of this cargo will enter through Nakonde, while branded jackets and rejected stamps will come through either Chirundu or Livingstone.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, credible and accountable electoral process, saying it would continue keeping stakeholders and the public informed as preparations advance. Officials said keeping ballot papers in a separate, secure air corridor removes any risk of interference in transit, a distinction they have stressed as election day approaches.

The assurance follows earlier confirmation from the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes that the Commission had performed beyond citizens’ expectations during the printing exercise in Dubai, with monitors who travelled to observe the process reporting no restrictions on their access.

Ballot printing is understood to be nearing completion, with the bulk of presidential ballots already produced ahead of packaging and dispatch. Zambians will go to the polls on 13 August, with the Commission expected to confirm the flight schedule once final security arrangements are in place.