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There was palpable tension as Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on Friday held a high-level engagement meeting with political parties to discuss preparations for the 2026 General Election, scheduled for August 13.
ECZ Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, said the meeting, held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, was aimed at updating stakeholders on the election roadmap and providing guidance on the nomination process for presidential aspirants.
She said the engagement underscored the Commission’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity and continued dialogue ahead of the polls.
“Informed participants, clear processes, and continuous dialogue are essential to ensuring credible elections,” Zaloumis said.
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She added that discussions would cover qualifications and requirements for presidential candidates as prescribed by law, including the pre-processing of supporters—a key step in ensuring efficiency and compliance during the nominations period.
However, the meeting was marked by visible tensions as rival factions within some political parties clashed over representation.
The Patriotic Front (PF) was represented by two presidential aspirants — Makebi Zulu and Miles Sampa — reflecting the party’s ongoing internal disputes.
A similar scenario unfolded within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which was represented by its president Saboi Imboela and another presidential aspirant, Arthur Musukwa.
Raising a point of order at the start of the meeting, Imboela questioned how the ECZ had issued invitations to two aspirants from the same party, calling for clarity on the Commission’s criteria for recognizing party representatives.
More than 50 aspiring presidential candidates attended the high-level stakeholder meeting as the country intensifies preparations for the August polls.
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