As Zambia prepares for its August 2026 general elections, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) has announced the deployment of a pre-election assessment mission scheduled to take place from April 25 to 30.
The mission is aimed at evaluating the country’s political climate and the state of electoral preparedness. It will also provide practical recommendations to key stakeholders on how to strengthen the credibility, transparency, and inclusiveness of the upcoming elections.
Leading the delegation is His Excellency Mohamed Chambas, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns and Chairperson of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan. He is joined by a team of seasoned regional and electoral experts, including Commissioner Lilian Mahiri-Zaja, former Vice Chairperson of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission; Professor Christina Murray, NDI Director for Southern and East Africa; and Richard Klein, NDI Director of Elections.
During its visit, the delegation is expected to engage with a broad range of stakeholders across the political spectrum. These include representatives from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), civil society organizations, and citizen election observers. Such engagements are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the electoral environment and identify areas that may require attention ahead of the polls.
NDI brings decades of experience to this process, having conducted more than 250 international election observation missions in over 70 countries worldwide over the past 40 years. Its work has consistently focused on supporting democratic institutions and promoting electoral integrity.
The organization has emphasized that the mission will be carried out in full compliance with the laws of Zambia, as well as international standards. These include the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, adopted at the United Nations in 2005 and endorsed by 65 organizations, among them the African Union.
With just months to go before Zambians head to the polls, the findings and recommendations from this mission are expected to play an important role in shaping efforts to ensure a credible and transparent electoral process.
By Samuel Mbewe
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