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Operation Young Vote (OYV) has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambiq (ECZ) to consider revising the Voter Registration Exercise period where necessary to accommodate areas with low turnout or logistical challenges.
OYV has also commended the Commission for the commencement of the Mass Voter Registration Exercise, a critical step in strengthening Zambia’s democracy ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
Organization Executive Director, Guess Nyirenda, said the exercise was timely and a progressive step towards strengthening Zambia’s democratic governance and promoting meaningful citizen participation ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
Nyirenda stated that the Mass Voters Registration exercise was an essential part of ensuring that citizens were accorded the opportunity to participate in choosing their leaders through a credible and inclusive electoral process.
He, however, expressed concern with a number of emerging challenges that risk undermining the inclusiveness and effectiveness of the registration process.
“Firstly, there appears to be very limited public awareness regarding the voter registration exercise,” Nyirenda said.
He noted that whereas the District Voter Education Committees (DVECs) and the Voter Education Facilitators (VEFs) were understandably on the ground, a lot more regarding workable sensitisation strategies need to be employed to mitigate the situation.
Nyirenda said many citizens, especially those in rural and peri-urban communities including in the capital city like Lusaka, remained unaware of the registration schedules, centres, requirements or services being offered by the ECZ.
“Without robust and widespread sensitisation, large sections of the population risk being disenfranchised simply due to lack of information,” he stated.
Nyirenda also expressed concern that a significant number of eligible citizens do not yet possess National Registration Cards (NRCs), a prerequisite for voter registration.
He said the inability to obtain an NRC due to logistical delays or administrative bottlenecks should not become a barrier to the fundamental right to vote.
“In view of these challenges, as OYV we would like to urge the hovernment, to get back in the field and work along side with the Registration Officials from the ECZ in their quest to capture the targeted approximately 3.5 new entrants to the Voter’s Roll,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda also appealed to political parties, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, media houses, and civil society actors to join hands in amplifying voter education and encouraging citizens to register.
He noted that democracy thrived when every voice counted, and that every voice can only count if every eligible citizen was registered.
“Furthermore, we wish to remind all stakeholders that no person, authority, or institution has the right whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly, to deny another citizen the right to register, vote, or freely express their political will,” Nyirenda said.
He stated that any acts of intimidation, misinformation, or obstruction should be condemned and reported immediately.
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