ECZ tasks stakeholders on new Electoral Act ahead of August 13 polls

Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, has called on stakeholders to familiarise themselves with changes in the Electoral Process Act as the country prepares for the 2026 General Election. Zaloumis explained that the changes were triggered by constitutional amendments that introduced a Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system to complement the existing First-Past-the-Post method. She said this during a Stakeholders Orientation Meeting on the Electoral Process Act No.

12 of 2026 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka on Friday. The meeting was convened ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Election to sensitise political parties, civil society, media and other actors on the new legal framework. Zaloumis said the orientation was aimed at ensuring all stakeholders understood the provisions of the newly enacted Electoral Process (Amendment) Act No.12 of 2026 which was passed into law in May.

“Upon conclusion of its work, the Electoral Review Technical Committee (ERTC) submitted its final Report to the government on 22nd April 2025. The report informed the review of the Constitution that led to the Constitution Amendment Act No. 13 of 2025,” Zaloumis stated.

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She said the amended constitution introduced the MMPR system, which combines First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) with Proportional Representation, and gave effect to Article 47. Zaloumis said the constitutional changes required ECZ to review the Electoral Process Act to ensure full compliance and implementation of the new framework. “The review process was inclusive, the Commission shared proposed amendments with you our stakeholders to solicit your vital submissions and your participation in the process.

The Bill was later tabled in Parliament and assented to in May 2026,” she said. Zaloumis outlined key provisions of the new Act relating to Proportional Representation, including participation guidelines for political parties and timelines for submission of party lists and seat distribution. “Some of the key provisions in the Act on the Proportional representation system include: Participation Guidelines: Procedures for the participation of political parties in the Proportional Representation system,” she noted.

Zaloumis stated that the Act also gave ECZ authority to prescribe the number of Proportional Representation seats for local councils and establishes the specific formula for allocating seats to each political party. “Allocation Formula: Establishes the specific formula used to allocate seats to each political party,” the ECZ Chairperson stated.

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