The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis has warned aspiring candidates against campaigning in non-existent constituencies.
Speaking during the just ended provincial delimitation sittings, Zaloumis said anyone found on the wrong side will face legal punishment if found destabilising the electoral process.
The Commission expressed shock that some politicians had started giving names and campaigning in constituencies that have not been authorised or identified.
Further, the Commission warned that those usurping its powers by naming constituencies will face consequences for the offence.
Giving an update during a media briefing in Mongu, on Thursday, Zaloumis said no one should misinform the public about constituencies while the delimitation exercise is still ongoing.
“We want a peaceful process and we would like not to disadvantage anybody because the delimitation exercise is on,” she said.
ECZ recently commenced district delimitation sittings across all districts, marking a major step toward the 2026 General Election scheduled for 13th August.
The stakeholder meetings were aimed at receiving submissions and engaging communities on the proposed demarcation of new constituencies in line with recent constitutional reforms.
Speaking during a district stakeholders’ meeting at one time, the District Electoral Officer for Chibombo District Grace Kanyata emphasised that the delimitation exercise is grounded in the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, which increased constituency-based seats in the National Assembly from 156 to 226.
This development required the creation of 70 additional constituencies to address population growth, demographic shifts, urbanisation, and emerging settlement patterns, while enhancing equitable representation.
Kanyata noted that the delimitation process must be completed and gazetted before 15th May 2026, when Parliament will stand dissolved. Following district engagements, submissions will be consolidated at provincial level before a final national report is produced in accordance with constitutional provisions.
The District Electoral Officer also highlighted the upcoming Inspection of the Provisional Register of Voters as another critical electoral milestone. The inspection will run online from 22nd February to 8th March 2026 and physically at 8,999 polling stations from 2nd to 8th March 2026.
The Commission has urged stakeholders to mobilise citizens to verify their details, stressing that an accurate voters’ register and fair constituency boundaries are key to credible elections.
Kanyata reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and stakeholder participation throughout the process, noting that both the delimitation exercise and voter register inspection form the foundation for a credible electoral process in 2026.