🇿🇲 BRIEFING | ECZ Completes Printing of 35 Million Ballot Papers
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has completed printing more than 35 million ballot papers for the August 13 General Election, with the first consignment expected to arrive in Zambia on Sunday aboard a chartered aircraft.
Providing an update from Dubai, ECZ Commissioner Ambassador Ndiyoi Mutiti said the printing process is now substantially complete, with only packaging and dispatch remaining before the ballot papers are flown to Lusaka.
According to the Commission, 9.1 million presidential ballot papers have been printed, alongside 8,399,850 local government ballots for 1,672 wards, 8,628,350 mayoral and council chairperson ballots covering 110 councils, and 8,854,300 National Assembly ballot papers for 217 constituencies.
“In total, 35,000,800 ballot papers for the 2026 General Election have been printed. We are remaining only with packaging and dispatch in the printing journey,” Ambassador Mutiti said.
She, however, clarified that the Commission did not print ballot papers for eight unopposed parliamentary constituencies, where no poll will be held. Printing for Lumezi North Constituency was also suspended following the death of a candidate, in line with the electoral process.
Meanwhile, ECZ Corporate Affairs Manager Patricia Luhanga announced that the first shipment of ballot papers is scheduled to land at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 12:15 hours on Sunday, with additional chartered flights arriving daily until Friday, July 31.
Luhanga said political parties, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, the media and members of the public have been invited to witness the arrival of the ballot papers. Formal verification is expected to begin on Monday, July 27, at 10:00 hours at the Commission’s Silverest Warehouse, where stakeholders will inspect the printed materials before distribution across the country.
The arrival of the ballot papers marks one of the most significant operational milestones in Zambia’s election calendar, moving the process from preparation to the final phase before polling day on August 13.
© The People’s Brief | Tracey Shumba