Minister of Information and Media Elvis Nkandu says Zambia welcomes constructive elections observations that contribute to strengthening democratic institutions. Reacting to the final Report issued by the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) regarding the 13…

 Minister of Information and Media Elvis Nkandu says Zambia welcomes constructive elections observations that contribute to strengthening democratic institutions.

Reacting to the final Report issued by the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) regarding the 13 August 2026 General Elections, Mr Nkandu however highlighted several concerns regarding some of the conclusions reached and recommendations advanced in the report.

Mr Nkandu who is also Chief Government Spokesperson explained that government was not afforded sufficient opportunity to provide historical, institutional and security context regarding a number of issues upon which significant conclusions appear to have been based.

In a statement issued to the media, he noted that certain findings risk presenting an incomplete picture of Zambia’s democratic journey.

He cited the concerns raised regarding legal and electoral reforms undertaken in proximity to elections, saying that the report creates the impression that amendments to electoral laws and constitutional provisions in an election year are exceptional developments under the administration of President Hakainde Hichilema.

“This portrayal is inconsistent with Zambia’s constitutional and political history. Successive administrations have undertaken significant constitutional and electoral reforms during election years. The historical record demonstrates that this has occurred under multiple administrations across different political eras,” he indicated.

He explained that to present the 2026 reforms without a historical context risks creating a misleading impression that the current administration acted in a manner unprecedented in Zambia’s democratic development.

 Further, the Minister stated the government’s concern on conclusions relating to the performance and conduct of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) that appear to have been reached without adequately engaging the institution itself.

He noted that the report states that ZNBC was overwhelmingly biased toward the incumbent, a conclusion which would have benefited from direct engagement with the broadcaster regarding its statutory mandate, editorial obligations and operational practices.

And Mr Nkandu underscored that election observation missions can only provide an assessment of what they directly observe and that they do not necessarily possess access to all intelligence, security information, law enforcement investigations or national security assessments available to sovereign state institutions.

“In a number of cases during the electoral period, law enforcement agencies were dealing with conduct that went far beyond normal political activity. Some political actors and their supporters were subjects of investigations involving serious allegations of criminal conduct,” he added.

The Minister stressed that certain matters touched on activities prohibited under the laws of Zambia and posed legitimate concerns for public order and national security.

He noted that without structured engagement with relevant government institutions, it would have been difficult for an observation mission to fully appreciate the circumstances surrounding some of the decisions and actions undertaken by state agencies.

“This does not diminish the value of election observation. However, it highlights the importance of balanced consultation and a comprehensive understanding of local realities before definitive conclusions are reached,” Mr Nkandu said.

On matters relating to freedom of expression and media freedom, Mr Nkandu reiterated Government commitment to the constitutional rights of all citizens, saying that the media environment in Zambia remains vibrant, diverse and highly pluralistic, with public, private, community and online media platforms freely expressing a wide range of views, including criticism of government.

“While we respect the observations and recommendations of the European Union Election Observation Mission, we believe that a fuller appreciation of Zambia’s constitutional history, institutional realities, media landscape and security environment would have yielded a more balanced assessment of the 2026 elections,” Mr Nkandu stated.

He reaffirmed that Zambia’s democratic journey is neither perfect nor complete, but a journey characterised by peaceful political transitions, constitutional evolution, expanding political participation and a sustained commitment to democratic governance.

Meanwhile, the Minister appreciated the Mission’s acknowledgement that the elections provided Zambians with a competitive choice, polling staff administered voting efficiently, the legal framework provided a broadly adequate basis for democratic elections, and that ECZ was well prepared for the electoral process.