The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has issued a strong warning to political parties and individuals not contesting the Chawama Parliamentary and Kasama Mayoral by-elections, cautioning them against using campaign regalia, symbols, or party colours during the campaign period. The Commission says such actions are unlawful and have the potential to disrupt the electoral process.
Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the Commission has observed with concern that some political parties and individuals who are not participating in the Chawama Parliamentary by-election are engaging in campaign-like activities using party regalia and symbols that do not belong to duly registered candidates or participating parties. He warned that this conduct risks confusing voters and undermining order and credibility in the electoral process.
Mr Kasaro reminded stakeholders that Section 2 of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2026 defines campaign material to include party or candidate manifestos, advertisements, billboards, posters, T-shirts, cloth, colours, symbols, and pictorial images associated with a political party or candidate.
He further cited Section 89(1)(n) of the Act, which states that a person shall not, being a candidate, use a symbol in the course of an election other than the one registered with the Chief Electoral Officer. As such, only political parties and candidates officially participating in the Chawama Parliamentary by-election scheduled for January 15, 2026, and the ongoing Kasama Mayoral by-election campaigns, are permitted to use their registered party regalia, symbols, and colours.
Mr Kasaro said the guidance is consistent with existing law and past ECZ practices aimed at preventing voter confusion and safeguarding the integrity of Zambia’s electoral process.
