Commonwealth observers deployed in Zambia

The two-person Observer Teams will be based in most regions of the country and will cover all nine provinces in the course of their observations. The Group’s Chairperson, Paul Bérenger, will be based in Lusaka but will also visit other districts and provinces.

The Teams have been briefed in Lusaka by the Electoral Commission, political parties, Commonwealth High Commissioners and other international partners, non-governmental organisations and international observers. They will now observe the final preparations for the elections and the campaign, and see the results process through to its conclusion.

On their return to Lusaka, the Observers will write their report which will be signed and sent to the Commonwealth Secretary-General before they leave Zambia.

Thirteen parties are contesting these elections, of which five are fielding presidential candidates. The current National Assembly of Zambia has a total of 158 members. One hundred and fifty members are directly elected in single-member constituencies, while the remaining eight seats are filled through presidential appointments. The mandated term for all members is five years.

Secretariat Links:

• Election Observation
• Country Profile: Zambia
• Arrival Statement