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EU observers: Zambia election competitive but freedoms limited
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

EU observers: Zambia election competitive but freedoms limited

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A European Union election observation mission stated that Zambia's general elections were competitive but occurred amid restrictions on fundamental freedoms and unfair competition.
  • The mission cited last-minute legislative changes, legal uncertainty, and unequal campaign conditions that distorted the playing field, impacting most presidential candidates' ability to campaign.
  • State media showed a marked bias toward the ruling party, and self-censorship increased due to new cybersecurity laws, according to the observers.

Zambian voters faced a competitive election on Thursday, but the process was marred by a reduction in fundamental freedoms and unfair competition, according to the European Union's observation mission. "The elections offered Zambian voters a competitive choice, and generally, election day proceeded calmly," said Michael McNamara, the Irish MEP leading the mission.

The elections offered Zambian voters a competitive choice, and generally, election day proceeded calmly, with election personnel efficiently facilitating voting at the polling stations observed.

— Michael McNamaraThe Irish MEP and head of the EU observation mission stated this in a press release summarizing the election day.

However, McNamara also noted that the overall electoral process unfolded in an environment that limited freedoms. "Last-minute legislative changes, legal uncertainty, and unequal campaign conditions distorted the playing field," he stated at a press conference in Lusaka, the capital, releasing the mission's preliminary findings. The observers' report indicated that democratic rights were affected by restrictions on campaigning, which impacted most presidential candidates and included episodes of violence against party supporters.

At the same time, the electoral process as a whole took place in an environment that limited fundamental freedoms. Last-minute legislative changes, legal uncertainty, and unequal campaign conditions distorted the playing field.

— Michael McNamaraMcNamara elaborated on the challenges faced during the election process in a press conference in Lusaka.

Furthermore, state media exhibited a clear bias favoring the ruling party. Self-censorship also rose among both traditional media and social media users, partly as a consequence of new cybersecurity laws. The mission's assessment came as Zambia's Electoral Commission continued vote counting, following a temporary suspension of the tally due to violence against election officials in some districts.

I understand that this has caused concern, so (...) transparency, clear communication, and strict adherence to procedures are fundamental to ensuring public confidence in the process.

— Michael McNamaraThe mission head urged for transparency and clear procedures to maintain public trust.

McNamara urged for the public release of "polling station-level disaggregated data" to ensure public confidence in the process. Approximately 8.7 million voters were eligible to cast ballots in the August 13 election to choose a president, members of the National Assembly, and municipal governments.

polling station-level disaggregated data

— Michael McNamaraMcNamara called for specific data to be made public.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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