The update is being delivered by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Mwangala Zaloumis.
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Status of Vote Counting: Vote counting has officially resumed after the security threat was successfully contained.
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Prohibition on Self-Declaration: All political candidates are strictly prohibited from announcing themselves as winners.
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Release of First Results: The first official election results are scheduled to be released at 22:00 hours (local time).
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For Further Details: Please watch the video above this post for the full briefing and additional information.
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The Electoral Commission of Zambia suspended the nationwide counting and announcement of election results on August 14, 2026. The decision came after reports of violence targeting election staff in several districts, with some incidents involving the theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes.
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Official Statement: ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis issued the suspension order, citing the security situation and continued threats of violence. The commission stated the suspension would be reviewed within 24 hours. In addition to Ms. Zaloumis, Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro also addressed the media, confirming the suspension and the review timeline.
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Reaction and Context: The suspension has drawn criticism. Opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who had previously claimed victory, warned that the suspension creates a dangerous vacuum. The vote suspension follows a tense election period, marked by prior arrests of individuals suspected of planning to interfere with the electoral system.
