A Commonwealth Pre-Election Assessment Mission has concluded its visit to Zambia following a series of consultations with a broad range of stakeholders ahead of the country’s forthcoming elections in August.
The Mission, which visited Zambia from 15 to 19 June, was mandated to assess the prevailing electoral environment and determine whether conditions are conducive for the deployment of a Commonwealth Observer Group.
During its visit, the Mission held meetings with representatives of government institutions, the Electoral Commission of Zambia, political parties, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, media, development partners, security agencies, women’s and youth organisations, and other key stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
The discussions focused on electoral preparations, the political and security environment, legal and institutional frameworks, media freedom, voter participation, and measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful, transparent and inclusive electoral process.
Speaking at the conclusion of the visit, the Head of the assessment mission, Linford Andrews, and the Head and Adviser of the Electoral Support Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat, thanked all stakeholders for their openness and constructive engagement:
"We are grateful to the people and institutions we met during our visit for sharing their perspectives on the electoral landscape as Zambia prepares to go to the polls in August.
"The findings and recommendations of the team will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, who will consider them in determining the Commonwealth’s electoral support and observation arrangements for the upcoming elections."
The team also met with the Zambia Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) as part of the Commonwealth’s ongoing support to help strengthen its readiness for the 2026 General Elections. As part of this support, the Commonwealth delivered introductory training on election monitoring, covering practical approaches to collecting and analysing election-related information, handling and reporting electoral complaints, improving reporting methods, and using access to information laws and the Commission’s mandate to support early warning and response efforts throughout the electoral process.
Having observed Zambia’s previous elections, the Commonwealth continues to work alongside national institutions and stakeholders to promote credible, inclusive and transparent electoral processes through election observation, technical assistance and other electoral support initiatives.
Find out more about our electoral support to member countries
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