Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis has defended the allocation of proportional representation seats following the August 13, 2026 general election, insisting that the process was conducted in accordance with the law and was not politically manipulated.
Zaloumis said the allocation of seats was governed by the applicable legal framework, adding that political parties that sponsored presidential candidates and qualified through the election results were responsible for submitting their lists of nominees to the commission.
She said the commission’s role was to process and validate the submitted lists to ensure that the nominees met the legal requirements for appointment to the allocated seats.
“The responsibility to comply with the requirement to submit a party list rests with the qualifying political party,” Ms Zaloumis said.
She explained that amendments to the electoral law provided a framework for the submission and validation of party lists, with the process divided into separate periods for political parties and the commission.
She said qualifying political parties are given seven days to submit their lists, followed by another seven days for the commission to process and validate the nominees.
She said the lists must originate from the political parties and not the commission, which is mandated to verify whether the nominated individuals satisfy the prescribed qualifications.
She pointed out that the requirements applicable to candidates contesting elections also applied to nominees on proportional representation lists, including age eligibility and the necessary adoption documentation from their political parties.
Ms Zaloumis said the commission had provided guidance on the number of seats allocated to each qualifying political party, the deadlines for submitting party lists, the submission procedures and the qualifications required of nominees.
She said the commission had also drawn attention to Section 36B of the Electoral Process Act, which addresses seats that remain vacant.
She maintained that the commission could not disregard the consequences prescribed by law when political parties failed to meet the requirements.
“The commission is not part of the decision on who is included. That is the responsibility of the political parties,” she said.
She rejected allegations that the seat allocation process was intended to favour one political party over another, saying the commission had no authority to waive statutory requirements for parties that failed to comply.
“This is not about favouring one political party over another,” she said
She urged stakeholders to distinguish between legal requirements and political interpretations of the process.
She acknowledged the public’s right to seek clarification and scrutinise decisions affecting political representation but called for debate on electoral matters to be informed by an accurate understanding of the law.
Ms Zaloumis said the commission remained open to scrutiny and constructive engagement with political parties and members of the public.
However, she urged stakeholders to exercise restraint when commenting on electoral issues and to avoid making accusations against the commission without first seeking clarification.
She said disagreements over electoral decisions should be expressed respectfully, adding that the commission had consistently sought to engage stakeholders in a respectful manner.
She said proportional representation was important not only at parliamentary level but also in local governance, urging stakeholders to recognise its role in broadening political representation.
23