Why did the ECZ suspend vote counting in Zambia?
On 14 August 2026 the Electoral Commission of Zambia suspended the counting and announcement of results nationwide, with immediate effect.
The Commission gave two reasons: violence during counting and announcement in some districts, which targeted polling staff, and in some cases the theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes. The decision was taken under Section 67(3) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016, which allows the Commission to act where the security situation requires it. ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the suspension would be reviewed within 24 hours.
A suspension is not an annulment. Ballots already cast stay valid and sealed. What stops is the counting and the public announcement, and constituencies declared beforehand keep their declarations.
With 226 of 226 constituencies declared, almost the whole result was still outstanding when counting stopped. That is why the range of possible outcomes on the front page is so wide.
How the count has moved
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Polling day
Zambians voted on 13 August 2026. Counting begins at polling stations and results are transmitted to constituency and then national level.
Source: Electoral Commission of Zambia
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ECZ suspends counting and announcement of results nationwide
The Commission cited violence during counting and announcement in some districts, targeting polling staff, and in some cases the theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes. The suspension was made under Section 67(3) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016, and the Commission said it would review the decision within 24 hours.
Source: ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis, reported by ZNBC and others link
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time not confirmedCounting resumes
The suspension was lifted and counting and announcement of results resumed. The exact time has not been confirmed here yet.
Source: Electoral Commission of Zambia
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time not confirmedECZ confirms the next announcement for 13:00
The Commission said it would announce results at 13:00, and again at 20:00. No new figures were given with that statement.
Source: Electoral Commission of Zambia
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time not confirmedAnnouncement moved from 13:00 to 14:00
The Commission pushed the first of today's two announcements back by an hour.
Source: Electoral Commission of Zambia
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time not confirmedNext announcement set for 21:00
After the consolidated total at 27 of 226, the Commission said the next announcement would be at 21:00.
Source: Electoral Commission of Zambia
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ECZ announces the final national total for all 226 constituencies
Hakainde Hichilema 2,967,326 and Brian Mundubile 1,856,217, with 124 constituencies won by Hichilema and 102 by Mundubile. Figures for the other twelve candidates were not taken down at the time of the announcement.
Source: ECZ National Results Centre
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Hakainde Hichilema declared president-elect
Mwangala Zaloumis ascertained the votes and declared Hakainde Hichilema president-elect of the Republic of Zambia. The consolidated result gives him 2,965,326 of 4,902,050 valid votes, 60.5%, against 1,856,217 for Brian Mundubile. 126,556 ballots were rejected, so 5,028,606 were cast against a register of 8,786,300, a turnout of 57.2%. Five constituencies are not in the totals: Makeni and Mandevu were lost in the attacks on polling stations, and Kwacha, Chawama and Lusaka Central were not ready in time.
Source: Mwangala Zaloumis, ECZ Chairperson and returning officer for the presidential election
Common questions
- Are the votes still valid after a suspension?
- Yes. A suspension stops counting and the announcement of results. It does not cancel votes already cast, and constituencies declared before the suspension keep their declarations.
- Under what law did the ECZ suspend counting?
- Section 67(3) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016, which allows the Commission to act where the security situation requires it.
- How many constituencies had been declared when counting stopped?
- 226 of 226.
See the live count Updated Tue 18 Aug, 05:52