Kinshasa, May 18th, 2026 (CPA).- The submission of candidacies for the 2026 presidential election in Zambia has officially begun on Monday, marking an important milestone in the preparations for the general election scheduled for August 13th, international media have reported. “The submission of candidacies for the upcoming presidential election has officially begun, and the accreditation of observers, the media, representatives of political parties and election monitoring missions is already underway,” has indicated a statement from the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
“Access to the candidacy submission centre will be strictly controlled and the process will continue until May 22nd,” the source has added. The opening of candidacies officially launches the country into the final phase of elections to choose the President of the Republic, members of parliament and local government officials.
The election comes against a backdrop of intense political activity and growing public debate surrounding economic reforms, governance and the quality of public services. Having come to power in August 2021 after six unsuccessful attempts, Hakainde Hichilema had secured a landslide victory over the outgoing president, Edgar Lungu, bringing an end to two decades of rule by the Patriotic Front Party (PF). As leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), he was carried by a wave of hope centred on economic recovery and the fight against corruption. Five years on, it is on his performance that the Zambian people are being called upon to pass judgement. The outgoing president has repeatedly called on political parties to conduct peaceful and policy-focused campaigns, warning against abusive rhetoric, disinformation and the divisive use of social media. He has furthermore assured that the security forces remain on high alert to ensure a peaceful environment before, during and after the vote.