Sedrobz

𝐒𝐄𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐙, 𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐙𝐂𝐈𝐃 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐂𝐒𝐎𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

With Zambia heading toward the 2026 General Election, political parties and civil society organisations are being equipped with critical tools to navigate electoral disputes more effectively and peacefully.

On May 11 and 12, 2026, SAIPAR’S Support to Electoral Dispute Resolution Oversight and Capacity Building Zambia (SEDROBZ) project, in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue, conducted a one-day trainings on Electoral Dispute Resolution (EDR) for political party and civil society representatives respectively. The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in Zambia’s electoral processes ahead of next year’s polls.

The training comes against the backdrop of increasing election petitions in recent electoral cycles, raising concerns about the efficiency, fairness, and credibility of dispute resolution mechanisms. Organisers said the programme was designed to improve political parties’ understanding of Zambia’s EDR framework and enhance their ability to engage constructively with electoral justice institutions.

A total of 31 participants representing about 14 political parties as well as 18 participants from about 10 CSOs attended the trainings, where they were taken through key legal and procedural aspects of filing and managing electoral petitions. Sessions focused on timelines, admissibility requirements, evidentiary standards, and the respective roles of institutions such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the Judiciary.
Facilitators emphasised that many petitions fail not because of the substance of complaints, but due to procedural shortcomings. Participants were therefore encouraged to pay close attention to documentation, burden of proof requirements, and compliance with established legal procedures to ensure disputes can be heard on their merits.

The training also underscored core principles underpinning effective electoral dispute resolution, including fairness, legitimacy, transparency, efficiency, promptness, and public trust. Organisers noted that strengthening these values is essential to promoting peaceful and democratic elections.

As part of the programme, participants were introduced to the SEDROBZ One-Stop Advisory Centre, a dedicated support platform designed to provide guidance and technical assistance on electoral dispute resolution processes. The centre aims to help political parties and stakeholders reduce procedural errors and improve access to timely information and advisory services.
Organisers expressed optimism that improved knowledge sharing and collaboration among political parties, electoral institutions, and the Judiciary would contribute to a more credible and peaceful electoral environment in 2026 and beyond.

SEDROBZ reaffirmed its commitment to supporting lawful, non-violent, and trusted mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes as part of broader efforts to strengthen democratic governance in Zambia.

CSOS are frontline actors in preventing, documenting and escalating disputes.

Young Women in Action discussing their role in EDR

There are no independent candidates under PR