THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has lifted the suspension of the counting and announcement of election results following a review of the security situation across the country.
ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the security threat to the electoral process had been contained and measures had been put in place to allow the process to continue.
The Commission had earlier suspended the counting and announcement of results following reports of violence against polling staff and, in some cases, the theft of marked ballot papers contained in ballot boxes.
Mrs Zaloumis said the review was conducted in consultation with relevant law enforcement agencies.
She announced that the first set of election results would be released at 22:00 hours today, August 14, 2026.
The ECZ said voting was successfully conducted at all polling stations across the country, with the last polling station closing at 02:00 hours today.
The Commission has urged political parties, candidates, their supporters and members of the public to remain peaceful and allow polling staff to perform their duties without intimidation, interference or violence.
It has also cautioned presidential candidates, other candidates and political parties against declaring themselves winners, saying such declarations without lawful authority constitute an offence under Section 89 (1) (o) of the Electoral Process (Amendment) Act No. 32 of 2021.
The ECZ has urged all candidates to allow the Commission to count, verify and announce the results in accordance with the law.
