The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has paused the tallying and official announcement of the presidential election results following the August 13 vote. This move has intensified uncertainty as leading contenders assert confidence in their respective leads.
The 2026 general election included contests for the presidency and an expanded 277-seat National Assembly, with over 8.78 million registered voters eligible to participate.
NRPUP Candidate Declares Victory, Alleges Irregularities
Brian Mundubile, presidential candidate for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), claimed victory based on his party's Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT) data collected from polling stations nationwide. He expressed concern over delays in result verification and warned that the suspension could open the door for manipulation.
Mundubile cited multiple alleged irregularities, including reports that military personnel took control of tally centers in Mufulira and that key electoral forms (Gen 20) were being removed. He also highlighted incidents involving ballot boxes in Chawama and Matero constituencies, calling for transparent investigations into any unlawful handling or theft.
Additional claims from North-Western Province suggested instructions to halt issuing results and forms, while Northern Province raised concerns about a senior government official's involvement in ballot box movements.
In response, Mundubile urged the ECZ to safeguard all electoral materials, maintain chain of custody, and allow accredited party agents full access to oversee the process. He emphasized the need for results to be published by station and constituency to enable verification against original records.
Incumbent President Calls for Patience
President Hakainde Hichilema, the incumbent, acknowledged receiving positive indications as the count continued but refrained from declaring victory. He appealed to Zambians to remain calm and await the official outcome through proper channels, stressing peace, unity, and patriotism.
Both candidates have called on their supporters to maintain peace and respect the rule of law during this tense period.
Attention now focuses on when the ECZ will resume the verification process and release the official presidential election results.
