Al Ghurair Completes 86% of Ballot Paper Printing for 2026 General Elections

Al Ghurair Printing Company has completed the printing of 86% of ballot papers required for Zambia's 13 August 2026 General Elections, with only 14% of the work still outstanding.

During a tour of the printing facility for stakeholders, General Manager Lakshmanan Ganapathy said the company had so far printed approximately 30 million ballot papers out of the estimated 36 million required for the polls.

Meanwhile, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Commissioner McDonald Chipenzi disclosed that the Commission has recorded 189 unopposed seats across the country.

Mr Chipenzi said these comprise seven National Assembly seats, six mayoral and district chairperson positions, and 176 ward councillor seats.

He explained that, as a result, the overall number of ballot papers required has been reduced because no ballot papers will be printed for constituencies and wards where candidates have been elected unopposed.

Stakeholders who observed the printing process expressed confidence in the exercise. Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Executive Director Reverend Allan Kasung'ami and Governance, Elections Advocacy and Research Services (GEARS) Initiative Zambia Executive Director Patrick Kaumba said they were satisfied with the progress and transparency of the ballot paper printing process.