HRC Urges ECZ to Provide Timely, Transparent Election Results

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to provide proactive, timely and transparent updates on results from the just-ended General Election, warning that prolonged information gaps could fuel speculation, misinformation and public tension.

In a statement issued today, August 15, 2026, the Commission acknowledged that escalating violence in some parts of the country had prompted ECZ to temporarily suspend the counting and announcement of election results nationwide.

The HRC strongly condemned reported attacks against polling staff and the alleged theft of marked ballot papers, saying such incidents threaten electoral officials, national security and the integrity of the electoral process. It has called on law-enforcement agencies to investigate all reported incidents promptly, lawfully and impartially.

While acknowledging that ECZ has powers under the Electoral Process Act to suspend counting and the announcement of results in response to security threats, the Commission stressed that those powers must be exercised proportionately and without unjustifiably restricting constitutional rights, particularly access to information.

The HRC warned that prolonged periods without official information could create uncertainty and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

It said regular public updates on election results are essential to maintaining transparency and accountability, adding that information vacuums could “fuel speculation and misinformation, heighten tensions” and ultimately erode public confidence.

The Commission has also appealed to political parties, candidates, supporters and members of the public to remain calm, reject violence and allow the electoral process to proceed peacefully.