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The Southern African Community Development (SADC) has announced that it will dispatch its Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) to investigate allegations of manipulation of the planned 2026 General Elections, following a complaint lodged by Patriotic Front (PF) Information and Publicity Chairperson Emmanuel Mwamba.
In his complaint to SADC, Mwamba listed what he described as serious concerns, accusing President Hakainde Hichilema of “engaging in the process of stealing the largest political party in Zambia using State institutions and the Judiciary,” and of passing “draconian laws that took away freedom of expression of citizens.”
Mwamba further alleged that President Hichilema was pushing constitutional amendments that would negatively affect the 2026 General Elections and was undermining the independence and autonomy of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
In a letter dated November 23, 2025, Onalenna Nthase, Senior Secretary in the Directorate of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, informed Mwamba that the SADC Secretariat had taken note of his concerns and his readiness to travel to Gaborone, Botswana, to make further representations.
Nthase stated that the issues raised fell within the mandate of SEAC, which was already preparing to travel to Zambia for a post-election review mission under Article 7.3 of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
She added that such reviews were essential for addressing post-election conflicts, assessing recommendations made by electoral observation missions, and encouraging Member States to implement relevant proposals contained in SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) and SEAC reports.
“Based on ongoing consultations with the Republic of Zambia, the Secretariat will communicate with your offices on the dates and venue for the SEAC consultations with electoral stakeholders in Zambia.
“This will be the ideal forum for you to make the representations above,” Nthase stated.
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