In line with the objectives of the Constitution of Electoral Commission Forum of SADC Countries (the “ECF-SADC”) and the provisions of the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) as revised in 2022, the ECF-SADC deployed a Pre-Election Assessment  Mission (the “Mission”) to the Republic of Zambia in the period 17-22 May 2026.

The mission was led by Hon. Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission. The Mission comprised 17 delegates from Electoral Commissions of Malawi, Namibia and Tanzania, amongst which were three (3) Chairpersons, two ( 2 ) commissioners and other senior officials from these member commissions.

The main objective of the Mission was to ascertain whether or not preconditions exist for the organization to dispatch an observer mission. Pre assessment missions are also aimed at establishing the level of member commissions preparedness for the scheduled elections including exchanging on possible collaboration and /or technical support as maybe needed by the Commission. The Missions engaged other electoral stakeholders to establish their roles, perspectives regarding the upcoming general elections the general electoral environment within which the 2026 elections will be taking place. The Mission was privileged to witness the Presidential Nomination exercise by ECZ  on the 19th May 2026.

The Mission engaged with a cross-section of stakeholders involved in the electoral process, including representatives from academia, political analysts, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and religious and faith-based organisations, youth and women organizations, representatives of some political parties and development partners.

The Mission shall release a report for the purposes of the debriefing session with Electoral Commission of Zambia.