Groups warn of low voter registration, question ECZ preparedness for 2026

The Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum Zambia (CSEIFZ) has expressed concern over the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s (ECZ) handling of the ongoing voter registration exercise.

Forum Chairperson, Solomon Ngoma, said the registration of only 200,080 voters during Phase One was alarmingly low and represents just a small fraction of the eligible population.

In a statement issued in Lusaka, Ngoma urged the Commission to take the process with the seriousness it deserves.

“At this rate, we are compelled to conclude that the Commission is not adequately prepared to conduct a credible and fair election in 2026,” he said.

Ngoma echoed the sentiments of President Hakainde Hichilema and other stakeholders regarding the persistent breakdown of ECZ’s voter registration equipment.

He said the technical failures were significantly slowing down the process and undermining public confidence.

“CSEIFZ calls on the ECZ to urgently address these operational challenges and ensure that more citizens are captured in the upcoming phases,” Ngoma said.

The Executive Director of the Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre also called for an extension of the voter registration exercise until the end of December 2025.

He noted that public awareness had been extremely poor, with many Zambians unaware of where or how to register due to the lack of IEC materials.

Ngoma further appealed to the ECZ Chairperson and Commissioners to take decisive leadership and hold ECZ management accountable, stressing that the current state of affairs was unacceptable and demands immediate corrective action.

Additionally, he urged the Ministry of Home Affairs, particularly the Department of National Registration, to release district-level NRC statistics to the ECZ.

“Withholding such critical data hampers the Commission’s ability to plan effectively and borders on institutional sabotage,” Ngoma said.

He encouraged all eligible Zambians to participate in the voter registration process, emphasizing that voting was not only a constitutional right but also a vital opportunity to shape the nation’s future.

Ngoma urged citizens to obtain their National Registration Cards (NRCs) and register as voters to avoid being disenfranchised in the 2026 general elections.

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