70
Total Recommendations
3
Implemented
8
Partially Implemented
59
Not Implemented
Filter Recommendations

Methodology Note: How We Gathered These Records

This electoral reform tracker compiles recommendations from the publicly released final mission reports from major national and international election observation missions following Zambia's 2021 general elections.

Note: Implementation status reflects our assessment based on publicly available information. All recommendations currently show "Not Implemented" status pending official verification. The status shall change over time as more information becomes publicly available and more recommendations are adopted.

Last updated: February 2026

The Electoral Reform Recommendations Tracker, developed by the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG), is designed to serve as a practical accountability and coordination tool for Zambian citizens, civil society, political parties, and other critical electoral stakeholders. It consolidates reform recommendations issued by domestic and international observer missions following Zambia's 2021 general elections. These include those from CCMG Zambia, the African Union, the European Union, the Carter Center, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The tracker functions as a living accountability mechanism—promoting transparency, coordination, and sustained follow-through on electoral reform commitments beyond a single electoral cycle.

The tracker is designed to accomplish the following:

  1. Monitor Reform Progress: Stakeholders can review the implementation status of each recommendation in near real time, categorized as either implemented, partially implemented, or not implemented. This helps assess progress over time and identify recommendations that need further follow-up and advocacy.
  2. Clarify Institutional Responsibility: Each recommendation identifies the responsible institution(s) to implement it. This enables targeted engagement and advocacy with relevant bodies, including the National Assembly, the election commission, political parties, and other stakeholders.
  3. Identify Priority Gaps: By grouping recommendations under key thematic areas—such as election administration, inclusion and accessibility, and the media and information environment—users can quickly identify reform areas where progress remains limited and where additional technical, political, or financial support may be required.
  4. Align with Formal Reform Processes: The tracker indicates whether the Election Reform Technical Committee adopted or aligned with specific recommendations in its formal report, helping stakeholders distinguish proposals in official reform pathways from those unaddressed.
Legal Framework and Rights
Constitutional and legal reforms for electoral rights and freedoms
EU EOM
Revise the law and regulations to ensure clear, coherent and transparent rules and timelines for each stage of the electoral process. Effective revisions requires addressing candidate nominations, second round processes and providing for prompt access to information of public interest, including results.
CCMG
Amend Legislation on Withdrawal, Resignation or Death of a Candidate: CCMG calls on all electoral stakeholders to engage in reforming the Constitution to no longer require the postponement of elections and fresh nominations processes in the case of the withdrawal, resignation or death of a candidate.While such a scenario is regrettable, the postponement of the election creates uncertainty and potentially significant cost burdens for both the ECZ and parties and candidates.
EU EOM
Amend the law to avoid postponement of elections and new nomination processes for already registered contestants due to a resignation, death or disqualification of a candidate.
AUEOM
Review Article 52 (6) of the Constitution, which provides for fresh nomination of candidates in the event of death, resignation or disqualification of a candidate. Implementation of this provision, especially for the presidential election, at a time too close to the election day may heighten political tension and cause unnecessary financial burden to the State
CCMG
CCMG recommends that the rights of accredited monitors and observers be codified in the legal framework for elections. This will ensure reasonable accommodation in the law their accreditation, and freedom of access to election venues and information, without the establishment of any limits to the number of monitors per observer group or having overburdensome accreditation procedures.
EU EOM
Embed in ECZ regulations clear and transparent procedures for timely and inclusive accreditations of observers, party agents and media, ensuring unhindered access to all aspects of polling, counting and tabulation, including at the national results centre.
CCMG
CCMG calls for the Public Order Act to be repealed and replaced or revised following a broad-based consultative process, taking into consideration past recommendations from civil society.
EU EOM
Repeal the Public Order Act and ensure in law adherence to regional and international standards for freedom of assembly, movement and expression.
Carter Center
Amend Section 5 (6) of the Public Order Act to introduce proper guidelines and standards that compel the police to justify the postponement of a peaceful assembly and provide an alternative date in the very near future to hold the postponed meeting.
AUEOM
Review provisions of the Public Order Act that infringe upon the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens to expand the democratic space.
CCMG
The Electoral Process Act and the Electoral Process Amendment Act No. 32 of 2021 clearly outline that the Electoral Commission of Zambia is the legally mandated body charged with announcing the official election results. CSOs who engage in election monitoring, including CCMG through the announcement of its PVT estimates, which are not election results, enhance the transparency of electoral processes and should be accorded all measures to continue to collect and disseminate information related to polling station and totalling centre results.
Electoral Commission Governance & Independence
ECZ institutional reforms and governance improvements
CCMG
CCMG calls on the ECZ to improve communication, accountability and harmonisation in the implementation of electoral procedures and deployments across its various structures, and to provide appropriate and responsive measures for redress
CCMG
CCMG recommends that the legal provisions for the appointment and dismissal of ECZ Commissioners are revised to ensure transparency and enhance public confidence in the Commission’s autonomy, by removing the possibility for undue influence and thus promote independent decision making by the Commission. CCMG also recommends that the financial independence of the ECZ be guaranteed by law through the Finance Act.
Carter Center
Remove the president’s power to appoint and dismiss election commissioners because it undermines the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s independence from the executive branch.
Carter Center
Implement the constitutional provision to gradually establish the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s permanent structures at the provincial and district levels to support the tasks of the electoral body in pursuance of its mandate throughout the electoral cycle
EU EOM
Implement decentralised ECZ structures with professional electoral staff, clearly prescribed functions and responsibilities, and an
CCMG
CCMG calls on the ECZ to take targeted action in to improve the diversity of its staff, including the inclusion of traditionally marginalised groups, such as youth and people with disabilities, and the inclusion of these groups and women in higher level positions
CCMG
In addition to civil society, the ECZ should enhance its engagement and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including political parties, the police, the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS), traditional leaders,religious leaders, and civil servants.
ZAFOD
Provide timely information on electoral processes and election related information proactively and upon request from civil society. This includes providing key documents such as the Enhancing the Accessibility Electoral Services for Persons with Disabilities document for 2021, which the ECZ has not shared despite requests. This key planning document should be developed collaboratively with persons with disabilities and/or their representatives and is a matter of public interest.
Digital Rights & Information Integrity
Voter registration process improvements and data management
CCMG
CCMG calls for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill to enhance transparency and accountability of Zambia’s institutions, including the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
Carter Center
Present the access to information bill in Parliament. Provide sufficient opportunity for civil society, political parties, and other concerned actors to inform debate.
EU EOM
Introduce legislation protecting the right to information of public interest.
Carter Center
Implement an open consultation engaging civil society groups, political parties, and subject matter specialists on amending the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act 2021. This process should ensure the legislation conforms with Article 11(b) of the constitution and international standards.
Carter Center
Implement an open consultation engaging civil society groups, political parties, and subject-matter specialists on amending the Data Protection Act 2021. This process should ensure the legislation conforms with Article 17 of the constitution and international standards.
EU EOM
Amend the legal framework for the ICT sector to prescribe clear and exhaustive criteria for only exceptional blocking or restricting access to Internet, to decriminalise defamation and publication of false content, and to narrow the legal definition of hate speech. Ensure that enhanced transparency and accountability in ZICTA‟s decision-making process are central to the review.
EU EOM
Protect freedom of opinion, including voters' informed choice by setting a reasonable limit on the amount of hourly paid political advertising on broadcast media in line with international best practice.
AUEOM
The media, particularly the public broadcaster, should ensure equal access and balanced coverage to all electoral contestants.
EU EOM
Protect freedom of expression by repealing the powers of the President to ban publications and by decriminalising defamation in favour of proportionate civil sanctions.
ZAFOD
ZAFOD calls on the media to provide inclusive media coverage throughout the electoral period. ZAFOD urges the media to have a more purposeful and intentional approach around covering issues of inclusion in political processes. In covering issues of disability inclusion, media houses must also demonstrate a clear understanding of the proper terminologies when referring to persons with disabilities. Broadly, ZAFOD calls on the media to make room for diverse voices in their programing with expertise in disability and governance in an effort to challenge stereotypes and social stigma on exclusion and discrimination based on disability.
CCMG
Conduct a review to determine if additional legislation is required to ensure that future internet shutdowns/slowdowns do not occur, especially during elections.
EU EOM
Amend the legal framework for the ICT sector to prescribe clear and exhaustive criteria for only exceptional blocking or restricting access to Internet
Carter Center
Urge Facebook to ensure that by election day, voters have full and verified information on how much has been spent by whom to target whom on their platform during the campaign period.
EU EOM
Protect freedom of opinion, including voters' informed choice by setting a reasonable limit on the amount of hourly paid political advertising on broadcast media in line with international best practice.
CCMG
CCMG calls for the reform of ZNBC into a true public service broadcaster, with the enactment of transparent safeguards against political influence, and internal checks and balances, with a legally mandated oversight body. CCMG also calls for the codification of of airtime allocation on ZNBC, which should be increased from the small allocation mandated by the ECZ in the 2021 campaign period.
Carter Center
Consider ensuring that Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation be brought fully under the control of the Independent Broadcasting Authority. The Independent Broadcasting Authority also should administer the state-owned Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia under the same framework of political impartiality and public service. To facilitate this, the independence of the authority as a regulatory body should be strengthened.
EU EOM
Transform state media into a genuine public service outlet by appointing ZNBC's management in a transparent and inclusive manner and establishing legal safeguards for editorial and financial independence, and operational sustainability.
AUEOM
Strengthen the capacity of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to enhance professional standards in the media and ensure equitable coverage of activities of political parties and candidates during elections.
Carter Center
Engage technical experts to ensure the Electoral Commission of Zambia gains an understanding of how social media and the online environment affect its functions. This should equip the commission to exercise an effective real-time counter-disinformation function during future elections.
EU EOM
Formalise cooperation between the ECZ, civil society and main social media platforms to develop an efficient mechanism ensuring transparency of online campaigning, including its financing and countering hate speech and disinformation. Civil society in coordination with the ECZ could initiate signing of an agreement ensuring that social media platforms, including Facebook, introduce best practices in Zambia, including engagement with the ECZ, employment of content moderators, and prompt removal of damaging and dangerous content.
Accessibility & Inclusion
Inclusive participation measures for all demographic groups
EU EOM
Enhance the right and opportunity for women‟s equal participation in elections by operationalizing the 2015 Gender Equity and Equality Act to promote non-discrimination and wide-ranging affirmative actions.
Carter Center
Review various pieces of legislation to expunge derogatory language against people with disabilities such as the Mental Disorders Act, Wills and Administration of Testate Estates, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Prisons Act
CCMG
CCMG calls on the ECZ to follow through on its commitment to have a dedicated staff person for improving accessibility of electoral processes for PWDs. In addition, given that government buildings, including schools, are frequently used as polling stations/registration centres, the improvement of their accessibility for PWDs is critical for PWDs to enjoy full rights to participate in educational and other activities.
Carter Center
Design and implement an action plan for disability inclusion with a detailed budget. The commission should ensure that all polling stations are fully accessible to people with disabilities, including the use of ramps or handrails where needed. At the polling stations, sign language procedures should be adequately displayed for voters with hearing impairments and ballot booth boxes accessible to wheelchair-using voters.
ZAFOD
ZAFOD calls on the ECZ to ensure greater accessibility including: Erecting temporary ramps for use by persons with disabilities in all stations. Ensuring that all polling stations are located in places accessible to persons with disabilities. Ensuring that at least one polling booth is at table height, reachable by wheelchair users. Ensuring professional sign language interpreters certified by a registered disability organisation in every polling station where a person who is deaf is registered. Accessible and sufficient ballot papers, including large print ballots and braille ballot jackets and tactile ballot guides for every visually impaired voter registered in a polling station/stream.
Carter Center
Establish the Gender Equity and Equality Commission by the president appointing the seven board members and providing sufficient funds to operationalize the commission in 2022.
Carter Center
Conduct a comprehensive review to assess the commission’s gender responsiveness and put into place mechanisms to address findings as warranted, such as convening women, youth, and people with disabilities expert advisory committees
Carter Center
Ensure the development of an effective implementation of policies on youth development and empowerment from executive to district levels, designed through a participatory process that engages youth in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. Among other measures: a) review the National Youth Policy and revise as required to increase the meaningful political participation of youth; b) review the mandate of the National Youth Development Council as required to increase the meaningful political participation of youth; c) ensure the youth council is sufficiently funded to carry out its functions.
Political Parties & Campaign Equality
Political party regulation and campaign fairness reforms
EU EOM
Remove from the law undue campaign privileges for the President and Vice President to ensure equal campaign conditions for all candidates.
AUEOM
Set up enforcement mechanisms to ensure that state resources (both human and material) do not serve partisan interests.
CCMG
In order to enhance transparency, discourage corruption and abuse of office, and decrease the risk for state capture, CCMG calls for the enactment of a campaign finance law to include financial reporting requirements for political parties and candidates. The reporting should be available in a timely and easily accessible and analysable format, and with enforcement provisions from a mandated body
Carter Center
Introduce a regulatory framework governing campaign finance, upon passage of the Political Parties Act. This should reflect best international practice. The model should enhance transparency and include an enforcement mechanism to sanction those who violate campaign finance regulations. Effective implementation will require a broad consensus among stakeholders
EU EOM
Enact a law on campaign finance including reporting requirements for political parties, candidates, and traditional and social media. Mandate standardised, timely disclosure before and after elections. Income and expenditure reports have to be audited by a competent, independent body with investigative, sanctioning, and enforcement powers.
AUEOM
The AUEOM would like to reiterate its 2016 recommendation on the need to enact enabling legislation to give effect to constitutional provisions for political party funding and campaign finance accountability.
CCMG
CCMG calls on the ECZ to revise its nominations fees for all candidates and with specific focus on fees for women, youth and PWD candidates, and to develop mechanisms for the reimbursement or refund of fees, including a refund in the event of a cancellation/postponement.
EU EOM
Revise candidacy requirements to enhance the right and the opportunity to stand by ensuring registration fees do not deter participation and are refundable, and removing educational requirements for the right to stand.
CCMG
CCMG urges PSMD to take reasonable steps to ensure that civil servants/public officials refrain from actively participating in politics and remain politically neutral and professional at all times, including development/publication of sanctions for civil servants who abuse government resource and taking disciplinary action against erring civil servants. CCMG noted multiple incidents of civil servants attending political events, including using their influence to support a particular political party or candidate, and abusing public resources for political purposes.
Carter Center
Take concrete steps to ensure that 50% of elected representatives are women, including, for example, ensuring gender equity on adoption selection committees at all levels in addition to appointing youth and people with disabilities committee members.
AUEOM
Put in place measures to increase the participation and representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities within political parties, especially in leadership positions
ZAFOD
To support the introduction of a 10 percent quota for persons with disabilities of all seats in parliament through a mixed member electoral system. 

ZAFOD
To include in their manifestos specific policies on the political participation rights of persons with disabilities, clearly outlining what measures the parties will take to enhance the political participation of persons with disabilities (e.g. percentage representation, positions reserved, at which level in the structure). (And) To establish party structures similar to the women and youth wings specifically for persons with disabilities (i.e. a disability wing).
Carter Center
Consider, in compliance with Article 60 (4) of the constitution, that the National Assembly enact a Political Parties Act to regulate political parties’ functioning, including establishment of a board of political parties and establishment and management of a political parties fund as well as setting out acceptable sources of funds for political parties and a maximum amount to be used by political parties for campaign during elections. A political parties fund with conditions linked to adoption of women, youth, and people with disabilities as candidates could incentivize parties to proactively recruit and support these party members
EU EOM
Enact a law on political parties stipulating registration requirements and guaranteeing internal party democracy, inclusivity, transparency and accountability, with adequate institutional oversight.
Carter Center
Consider enacting a legal framework to specifically prohibit the use and/or training of political cadres in any or all paramilitary or police activities.
AUEOM
Dismantle party cadres who have been implicated in perpetrating electoral violence, hate speech, and harassment of political opponents. These acts constitute a threat to the peace and stability of the country and the integrity of the electoral process, and can affect women and other vulnerable groups’ participation as voters and candidates.
CCMG
CCMG noted numerous incidents of traditional and religious leaders across the country using their influence to support a political party or candidate. CCMG urges these leaders to practice strict political neutrality to provide for a level playing field and freedom of expression for Zambia’s citizens as is required of them in the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Other Recommendations
A collection of additional recommendations.
CCMG
Throughout the electoral cycle, and in contrast to past electoral cycles, the ECZ failed to to systematically engage with civil society, refusing or ignoring reasonable requests for meetings or provision of key information. CCMG calls on the ECZ to take deliberate steps to improve its engagement with civil society, including the designation of a responsive and empowered CSO Liaison Officer who will serve as the contact person between the Commission and civil society actors to enhance engagement and two-way communication and information sharing
EU EOM
Promote transparency through improved clarity and consultation on decisions and decision making processes. Establish and enforce improved mechanisms for genuine, inclusive and formalised consultations with political parties, civil society and media throughout all stages of the electoral process.
ZAFOD
ZAFOD calls on the ECZ to improve its information sharing and collaboration with civil society organisations and the public. Specifically, ZAFOD calls on the ECZ to have dedicated officer to disability and inclusion related issues
CCMG
The ECZ’s new election day accreditation procedures for citizen monitors was unnecessarily burdensome and lacked uniform application across all districts. CCMG also urges the ECZ to thoroughly train staff on the role of monitors to avoid accredited monitors being denied access to registration centers or polling stations as was experienced throughout the 2021 electoral cycle.
AUEOM
Review the process of accreditation to enable active participation of observers, monitors, party agents and others to increase transparency and accountability in the electoral process
ZAFOD
Improve the accessibility of accreditation processes for persons with disabilities serving as monitors and party agents, including the physical accessibility of procedures and the reduction of unnecessary administrative documents/procedures introduced for the 2021 elections.
CCMG
The ECZ should establish clear rights and guidelines for the monitoring of the ballot paper printing by political parties and civil society stakeholders to enhance the transparency of the elections in the critical pre-election preparation stage. Efforts should be made to explore the possibility of printing ballot papers in Zambia. Time has come for Zambia to print its own ballot papers.
CCMG
The ECZ Election Officer’s Handbook calls for polling officials to write Voter ID numbers on the ballot paper counterfoil. Because both the ballot paper and the counterfoil have a unique serial number, the writing of Voter ID numbers on the counterfoil makes it possible, though it would be challenging, to determine how a voter marked his/her ballot thereby compromising the secrecy of the ballot. CCMG calls on the ECZ to re-examine this procedure in order to ensure the secrecy of the vote and protection of the voter
Carter Center
Revise the commission’s handbook, in line with Zambian law and international standards on secrecy of the vote, to instruct polling assistants not to record the voter’s card number on the ballot paper counterfoil.
Commonwealth
The recording of the NRC on the counterfoil, since this is cumbersome and could compromise the secrecy of the ballot
CCMG
On election day, multiple polling stations experienced long lines and congestion, with the potential to discourage potential voters and increase tensions at polling stations. CCMG recommends that the ECZ reduce the number of voters assigned to a polling station and establish additional polling stations to reduce congestion. In 2021, there were 2995 polling stations with over 800 registered voters. With polling stations open for 12 hours or 720 minutes, processing more than a voter per minute is unreasonable.
Carter Center
Increase the number of polling stations in order to decrease the maximum number of registered voters in polling stations. The ratio of voters per polling station across the country is still highly uneven, and several polling stations in urban areas continue to have more than 900 registered voters, delaying voting procedures
EU EOM
Designate additional suitable in size premises in a timely manner to avoid congestion at and in polling stations, especially in urban areas.
Commonwealth
The ECZ may wish to consider reducing the number of voters per stream to ease congestion and to speed up the processing of voters.
AUEOM
Reduce the number of voters per polling station to ease overcrowding and associated challenges on election day such as delay in counting and tabulation of results.
CCMG
The ECZ must review and revise the current and any future list of polling stations so that no polling stations with duplicate names are used. There are 907 polling stations on the ECZ list of polling stations with identical names that are in the same constituency. This creates confusion for voters and stakeholders, and undermines transparency of results. Furthermore, the list of polling stations should be released to stakeholders and the public as soon as feasible, with a timeline established in the administrative or legal framework.
Commonwealth
The VVDs should be tested to minimise the possibility of glitches, and only classrooms with electrical sockets should be used as polling stations, so VVDs can be charged on election day when necessary without causing disruption to the voting process.
Commonwealth
The ECZ regional offices should plan well ahead to ensure there are enough vehicles to transport sensitive materials to polling stations before election day.
Carter Center
Publish disaggregated data on women, youth, and people with disabilities’ participation in the electoral process as candidates, recruited election officials, and voters at all levels
CCMG
All procedures for all electoral processes should be released in a timely manner to all stakeholders and the public, including boundary delimitation procedures, voter registration procedures, election day procedures, nominations procedures and accreditation procedures. Furthermore, stakeholders should be provided with an opportunity to review and provide comments and feedback on the procedures prior to finalisation.
Carter Center
Publish through its official channels and make available to stakeholders in due time all the laws and statutory instruments enacted to regulate the electoral process. The Electoral Commission of Zambia website should be maintained regularly to include the latest legal updates and relevant news
EU EOM
Ensure prompt and easy access to key information on electoral processes for all stakeholders. Compile and publish in unified manner and accessible format, online and in print, all relevant legal instruments and guidelines.
CCMG
Provide all polling station-level results in a format that is accessible and can be analysed, namely a .csv or excel file. The posting of results or release of results should include the full location information (province, district, constituency, ward and polling district as well as their respective codes) and with registered voters in addition to vote counts. Currently the ECZ results posting practice continues to fall short of best practices for transparency and accountability as documented in the Open Election Data Initiative (https://openelectiondata.net/), which calls for all results to be available in a single downloadable file in a machine-readable format. Based on CCMG’s analysis, results for the 2021 election for 545 polling stations were not included in the polling station-level results posted on the ECZ’s website.
Carter Center
Publish polling station-level results on the commission’s website. These results should be easy to download in one file according to open election data principles.
Commonwealth
Ensure that screens at the national results centre display verified results to enhance transparency during tabulation.
CCMG
Despite the enactment of SI 35 – Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement, and the conflict management structures, CCMG documented numerous violations of the Electoral Code of Conduct throughout its observation initiatives that were reported and brought to the attention of the ECZ, but no action was taken. CCMG urges the ECZ to continue taking practical steps to enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct, and to transparently investigate all cases in order to identify perpetrators and sanction them accordingly. Beyond concerns of politically-motivated violence and destruction of property, CCMG reported other Electoral Code of Conduct violations. These included incidents of threats and harassment, traditional leaders endorsing specific political parties and candidates and the inappropriate use of government resources and personnel, that were not investigated or sanctioned by anybody. CCMG noted that the establishment of campaign schedules by ward may decrease politically-motivated violence and therefore calls on the ECZ to continue to develop these schedules in collaboration with contesting parties and also to enforce their use.
ZAFOD
Enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct in a proactive and transparent manner, including the use of derogatory language against candidates, candidate supporters or voters with disabilities.
AUEOM
Channel any disputes on the electoral process or its outcomes through appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms as provided for in the law.
Carter Center
Amend Section 106 (1) (b) of the Electoral Process Act to ensure compliance with Article 73 (2) of the constitution requiring parliamentary petitions to be heard and determined within 90 days.
Carter Center
Design and implement education and training programs for judges on integrity and accountability
CCMG
CCMG recommends that the legal framework be revised to set parameters that are consistent with international principles for deviations within a reasonable range (1-5%) between electoral districts concerning the ratio of citizens to representative in legislative chambers
Carter Center
Ensure an equitable distribution of voters per constituency. To this end, the National Assembly should consider passing a bill amending the constitution in order to increase the number of seats in the National Assembly. An increase in the number of constituencies in densely populated urban areas such as Lusaka should be considered.
EU EOM
Guarantee periodic delimitation of electoral boundaries through an independent, inclusive and transparent process establishing equality in voting and representation on a timeline compatible with the electoral calendar and underpinned by effective access to judicial remedy.
CCMG
In order for Zambia’s government to more accurately reflect its diverse population in decision making, CCMG recommends that Zambia considers adopting the Mixed Member Electoral System.
Carter Center
Consider amending Article 47 (2) of the constitution—to comply with the constitutional principles of gender equity in the National Assembly and councils—to adopt an electoral system such as mixed-member or any other more favorable to the achievement of gender equity, inclusive of specific affirmative action measures to achieve 50/50 gender parity in elected offices as articulated in Article 259.
Carter Center
Enact special measures to fully implement the requirements under Article 259 of the constitution concerning equitable representation of youth and people with disabilities for appointment to public office, including allocating special seats for these underrepresented constituencies.
ZAFOD
ZAFOD calls on the government to influence changes to the electoral system from Zambia’s current First-Past-the-Post (simple majoritarian system) to a Mixed Member Electoral System (MMES). ZAFOD sees this system (MMES) as a means of ensuring representation in Zambia’s legislature of persons with disabilities, by persons with disabilities and an effort to promote the political rights of persons with disabilities by increasing the number of persons with disabilities in the House. ZAFOD’s position on the MMES is that 10 seats must be reserved for persons with disabilities in parliament. 

CCMG
Beyond concerns of politically-motivated violence and destruction of property, CCMG reported other Electoral Code of Conduct violations. These included incidents of threats and harassment, traditional leaders endorsing specific political parties and candidates and the inappropriate use of government resources and personnel, that were not investigated or sanctioned by anybody. CCMG noted that the establishment of campaign schedules by ward may decrease politically-motivated violence and therefore calls on the ECZ to continue to develop these schedules in collaboration with contesting parties and also to enforce their use.
Carter Center
Hold accountable through existing legal channels individuals responsible for inciting or committing acts of violence during the electoral process.
AUEOM
Ensure an enabling environment prevails during elections by urgently undertaking measures to address underlying causes of tension and politically motivated violence that limited constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights
Carter Center
Ensure the Zambia Air Force and Zambia police force grant reasonable and equitable approval for travel and rally plans and introduce clear and reasonable guidelines regarding time and space to avoid conflict without inhibiting freedoms of movement and assembly.
AUEOM
Ensure that restrictions on campaign activities of political parties and candidates are reasonable and non-discriminatory.
Carter Center
Amend the Electoral Code of Conduct in the Electoral Process Act to include provisions specifically targeting gender-based violence and lay out appropriate channels for victims of gender-based violence to be able to report so that perpetrators can be duly sanctioned in line with the requirements under the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act.
CCMG
During the 2021 elections, CCMG witnessed restrictions in the use of Zambian airspace for opposition political parties. Therefore, we recommend that a thorough review of airspace restrictions for political parties when participating in electoral processes be conducted and that guidelines for the use of airspace during elections be developed in a transparent manner, in consultation with stakeholders.
CCMG
Establish a law or procedures, in consultation with stakeholders, related to the use of military forces in the context of elections
CCMG
CCMG notes the prejudiced application of the POA by the Police in the 2021 electoral cycle, and so urges the Police to apply this law equitably to all citizens and particularly political actors, and not to use this act to unfairly disadvantage candidates and political parties in the electoral process. Furthermore, Police should implement an online meeting management system, in which meeting inquiries, as well as decisions by Police and the reasoning for those decisions are accessible to the public. Furthermore, the Police should support the repeal or revision of the Act to prevent such abuses in the future.
Carter Center
Ensure the Zambia police force provides protection against intimidation and violence during campaign periods and exercises neutrality in its application of the law.
AUEOM
Remain professional and stay neutral throughout the electoral process. Protect all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations, from election related violence, intimidation and coercion, and ensure that all rights violations are subject to prompt, independent and impartial judicial remedy.
CCMG
CCMG noted incidents of the use of excessive force by the police and so calls on the Police Command to properly train and hold accountable all its police units, that is in the habit of using excessive force. Live or rubber ammunition and tear gas should only be used as a last resort when all deescalation measures have been exhausted.
Carter Center
Put in place adequate mechanisms at national and district levels to fulfill the commission’s constitutional mandate to ensure continuous voter registration.
Carter Center
Amend the National Registration Act to include clear guidelines on mobile registration exercises to be conducted ahead of voter registration drives. The law should grant observers access to mobile registration procedures for issuance of national registration cards
CCMG
CCMG calls for the issuance of NRCs to be codified within the legal framework through clear procedures to ensure that this important exercise takes place without the possibility of political interference and in a transparent, inclusive and accountable manner, with the rights of monitors/observers and the release of key data included in the legal framework.
Carter Center
Put mechanisms in place through the Ministry of Home Affairs of the government of Zambia to ensure that Zambians above age 16 can apply for and obtain a national registration card at any given time
ZAFOD
ZAFOD recommends that ECZ should capture disability information at voter registration and plans provision of disability information at voter register inspection, so that voters with disabilities can review and update their disability information and be provided as part of the ECZ’s transparency measures to observer groups conducting independent audits of the voter register.
ZAFOD
Ensure data-driven accessibility planning through the use of voter registration disability data to ensure that all voters with disabilities are provided with the necessary accessibility assistance on election day.
CCMG
CCMG calls on the ECZ to allow for an independent audit of the current and future voters registers to enhance the transparency of voter registration... Furthermore, the voter register should be released to stakeholders as soon as feasible, with a timeframe established in the ECZ’s administrative or legal framework.
Carter Center
Facilitate auditing procedures to enhance transparency and confidence-building among citizens by ensuring the government of Zambia and the commission enact a regulatory framework that enables external groups to conduct an audit of the permanent voter register at any given time
AUEOM
Undertake and/or permit an independent audit of the Voter Register by stakeholders to enhance its credibility.
CCMG
The targets for voter registration and the deployment plan (staffing and kits) should be guided by an analysis of the voting age population (VAP) based on census data from the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS). The ECZ should publish its voter registration data by phase and determine any extension of voter registration based on the success rate of registration against the voting age population in any given catchment area.
EU EOM
Involve all stakeholders in the planning process of future reviews of the voter register.
Carter Center
Enhance capacity to conduct, support, and coordinate civic and voter education activities across the country throughout the electoral cycle with a particular emphasis on youth, women, and people with disabilities. Attention should be paid to sensitize youth on the importance of using only nonviolent means to pursue political activism
EU EOM
Develop continuous, effective and broad-reaching voter education, including clear messages on key stages of the electoral process, specially tailored for youth, women, persons with disabilities, prisoners and marginalised groups. Ensure consistency of voter education messages across traditional and online media. The ECZ could enhance use of varied digital tools
Carter Center
Undertake comprehensive information and education campaigns to ensure that any changes to the electoral system are fully understood by voters, candidates, political parties, civil society, the media, the Electoral Commission of Zambia, and the judiciary
ZAFOD
While ZAFOD commends the efforts made by CSO/FBOs to compliment the efforts of the ECZ in conducting voter education activities, ZAFOD notes with concern the lack of collaboration between CSO/FBOs with DPO’s in planning and conducting civic and voter education activities. ZAFOD calls on CSO/FBOs to make greater effort in collaborating with DPOs on voter information as they are best placed to understand the needs of persons with disabilities in the electoral processes. ZAFOD also urges CSOs/FBOs to use evidence-based data in their advocacy pertaining to issues of political inclusion for persons with disabilities, including providing support for capacity building for persons with disabilities which would increase the chances of achieving a fully inclusive electoral process
CCMG
CCMG calls on the ECZ to consult stakeholders and provide a roadmap for the operationalization of diaspora voting mechanisms.
CCMG
Based on the lessons learned in the 2021 electoral cycle, CCMG calls on the ECZ to codify detailed procedures for the participation of the incarcerated persons in key electoral processes, such as voter registration, access to voter education and campaign materials, and election day voting, as well as the rights of political parties to campaign to these constituents and also for monitors to observe voting in correctional facilities where polling districts are located in such. CCMG proposes that the ECZ not locate polling stations in correctional facilities and that inmates should vote at the polling station nearest to their facility, to avoid opportunities for manipulation.
Commonwealth
While the process for prisoner voting was generally good, it should be refined to accommodate specific situations where a prisoner has been released, or transferred, before election day.