By 
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has urged Zambians to exercise caution, patience and to rely only on official information communicated by the Commission, and to avoid using unofficial or unverified information in ways that may create unnecessary tension, confusion or mistrust.
ECZ Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, stressed that the announcement of election results carried a profound responsibility, and that the Commission would ensure results announced reflected the votes cast by Zambians and that the process was conducted in accordance with the law.
Zaloumis made the appeal in Lusaka on Tuesday during the launch of the 2026 National Election Results Centre, a day before Zambians go to the polls on August 13, 2026 to elect their representatives.
“We must also recognise the growing influence of artificial intelligence and social media in our elections. During the results period, figures, photographs, documents and claims may circulate rapidly across digital platforms. Some may be genuine, others may be incomplete, taken out of context or entirely false,” she said.
Zaloumis emphasized that the responsibility of the Commission was therefore to ensure that the results announced reflected the votes cast by the people of Zambia and that the process through which those results were determined was conducted in accordance with the law.
She noted that while timeliness was important, accuracy should never be compromised for speed and that the Commission would undertake the necessary processes to ensure that results received were handled and announced in accordance with prescribed procedures.
“We ask all stakeholders and the public to appreciate this responsibility and to allow the process to proceed carefully and meticulously,” the ECZ Chairperson said.
Zaloumis called on political parties, candidates and their representatives to exercise their role responsibly and within the framework established by law, and to raise concerns through established procedures.
“To our election observers and monitors, both international and local, we welcome your presence and your observation and monitoring of our electoral process. Your observations contribute to transparency and provide important perspectives on the conduct of the election,” she said
Zaloumis also appealed to members of the media to report accurately, responsibly and with appropriate context, and to verify information before broadcasting or publishing it.
She stressed the need to verify information before broadcasting or publishing it, report official results issued by the Commission and avoid amplifying speculation or unverified claims.
Zaloumis added that the launch of the National Election Results Centre represented the Commission’s commitment to ensuring the process through which Presidential Election results were announced was accessible to stakeholders and conducted with the seriousness it deserved.
“The Centre will serve as the central hub for the announcement of Presidential Election results and will bring together key electoral stakeholders as the results process unfolds,” she said.
Zaloumis said the purpose of the facility was to facilitate an orderly, transparent and credible results process and to provide a recognised platform from which the nation will receive official information relating to the Presidential Election results.
She appealed for patience and calm during the period between the casting of the final ballot and the declaration of the final result, noting it should not become a period of unnecessary tension.
Zaloumis thanked political parties, candidates, observers, the media, civil society and faith-based organisations for their continued engagement, and declared the 2026 National Results Centre officially launched.
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