ECZ Meets Presidential Candidates to Agree Campaign Timetable

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has held a meeting with presidential candidates and their representatives to develop a campaign timetable for the remainder of the electoral period.

Chairing the engagement, ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the proposed timetable was designed to ensure order, fairness and peaceful conduct in the weeks ahead. The initiative, she explained, follows concerns over overlapping campaign programmes and the potential for tensions to arise between rival parties and candidates as activity intensifies across the country.

A coordinated schedule, Mrs Zaloumis said, would also assist the Zambia Police Service and electoral officials in planning and securing campaign events, helping to ensure that rallies and other gatherings pass off smoothly. She added that existing schedules for parliamentary, mayoral and councillor candidates remained in force and had not been altered by the new arrangements.

Mrs Zaloumis used the meeting to reaffirm that the Commission had not stopped any presidential candidate from campaigning, noting that its advisory of 18 June was intended to promote order rather than restrict activity. She gave an assurance that the ECZ would continue engaging stakeholders and addressing concerns raised throughout the process, so that every candidate was afforded a fair opportunity to compete.

The meeting drew broad participation, with nine of the 14 presidential candidates attending in person and the remaining five sending delegates to represent them as the timetable was discussed.