EU Mission Says Zambia’s Elections Calm But Faced Uneven Playing Field

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Zambia has released its preliminary statement on the 13 August 2026 general elections. The mission noted that voting was calm and polling staff facilitated the process efficiently. However, it observed that broader issues during the electoral period created an uneven environment for contestants.

The EU EOM highlighted that while Zambia’s legal framework provides an adequate basis for democratic elections, several significant changes were made to electoral laws only three months before polling. This limited time for implementation and stakeholder awareness and created some uncertainty around procedures. The mission also pointed to the impact of candidate registration being inclusive and transparent, but noted minimal advantages for incumbents and concerns around campaign-related incidents and law enforcement responses.

On media and freedoms, the mission reported that journalists operated with relative freedom, though recently introduced cyber laws raised concerns among media and online users. State-owned media coverage was also described as heavily skewed. Positive steps noted included the Access to Information law and the repeal of criminal defamation of the president, though the mission said the impact of these reforms was limited by gaps in implementation.

The EU EOM emphasized that it is independent and does not interfere in the electoral process. With tabulation of results still ongoing, the mission will continue to monitor remaining stages before issuing a final assessment. It called for any disputes to be handled peacefully through established legal channels.