Government Rules Out Voter Registration Extension

The government has dismissed calls to extend the mass voter registration exercise, saying people had sufficient time but chose to wait until the last minute.

Acting Leader of Government Business Ambrose Lufuma told Parliament on Tuesday that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) must stick to its timelines to prepare for next year's elections.

"The Zambian people have a problem, they like last-minute exercises," Mr Lufuma said, defending the decision not to extend registration beyond the deadline.

He explained that citizens were given adequate notice - one month, then 15 days, then three additional days - but many still delayed.

According to Mr Lufuma, the ECZ recorded 1,453,462 new voter registrations by 26 November, with 769,487 women and 683,976 men signing up.

The acting government leader stressed that extending the exercise would disrupt the commission's schedule for compiling and inspecting voter registers ahead of the 13 August 2026 elections.

"We would love to extend, but we are constrained because of the timelines," he said, adding that the registers must be ready well before polling day.

Nyimba Independent MP Menyani Zulu questioned whether Mr Lufuma was in order to criticise Zambians' registration habits, but First Deputy Speaker Attractor Chisangano ruled in the minister's favour.

"What the minister was trying to emphasise is that usually in Zambia there is a tendency where people do not use the opportunity early enough," Ms Chisangano said.

Opposition MP Stephen Kampyongo had asked why the government would not consider continuous registration at provincial centres, but Mr Lufuma maintained that time had run out.

The ECZ had publicised registration schedules for all 12,156 polling stations across the country.