The African Union (AU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have deployed a joint 93-member election observation mission to monitor Zambia’s upcoming general election.
Led by former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, the short-term international observers have been deployed across all 10 provinces to assess the political environment, polling day procedures and the immediate post-election period.
Boshe is deputised by Ambassador Marie-Pierre Lloyd, a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders from Seychelles.
The 93 observers represent a broad cross-section of African institutions, including ambassadors accredited to the AU, election management bodies, youth organisations and specialists in gender, media and human rights.
They represent 29 countries, including Botswana, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
To ensure a comprehensive evaluation, observers will engage directly with key electoral stakeholders.
These include the Electoral Commission of Zambia, state institutions, political parties, religious leaders, civil society groups, the media and other international observation teams.
A final, comprehensive report will be published on 15 August following the official declaration of the final election results.
JN/APA