Zambia Catholic Bishops: Call for ECZ Election Transparency, Ballot Custody

• The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) had demanded greater transparency in the tallying of Zambia's August 12, 2021, general election votes, warning against undermining public confidence.
• The ZCCB raised concerns over reports of ballot papers being left in the custody of police and army personnel, insisting materials remain with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and its authorized officials.
• The bishops questioned the deployment of the army for election security, stating that maintaining order is primarily the Zambia Police Service's responsibility and that military presence could intimidate voters.
• Transparency was also demanded regarding allegations of harassment against opposition political actors, with calls for accountability, legal access, and proper charging or release for anyone held by state agencies.
• The ZCCB, as the largest Christian denomination's national body, holds significant influence and has an established role in electoral observation, adding weight to its call for election integrity amidst rising political tensions from the 2021 election.

The ZCCB firmly stated that election materials must remain under the exclusive control of the ECZ and its authorized officials, with political party agents, accredited observers, and the media afforded full opportunity to scrutinize their handling.

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) had issued a strong call for enhanced transparency in the tallying of votes from Zambia's August 12, 2021, general election. In a pastoral statement released on Sunday, August 16, from Lusaka, the bishops cautioned that any delays or disputes regarding the handling of ballot materials could severely erode public trust in the final outcome. Their intervention, they stated, was a defense of the nation's Constitution, the rule of law, and the fundamental right of Zambians to have their votes accurately counted and respected.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) concluded its count of presidential, parliamentary, and local election votes in August 2021. This process was temporarily halted following reports of violence targeting election officials and the theft of both marked and unmarked ballot papers. The ECZ later confirmed that the security threat had been contained, allowing vote counting to resume under heightened security measures.

The ZCCB expressed significant concern over the suspension of counting, which was announced just one day after voting concluded. They emphasized that the credibility of any election hinges on a transparent counting and tallying process, asserting that "Any delay, however justified operationally, creates space for doubt, speculation, and mistrust." This sentiment underscores the critical need for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to ensure election transparency, especially concerning the ECZ's handling of the process.

Beyond the general delays, the Zambia Catholic Bishops raised specific concerns regarding the chain of custody for electoral materials. Reports indicated that some ballot papers had, at various points, been left in the care of police and army personnel. The ZCCB firmly stated that election materials must remain under the exclusive control of the ECZ and its authorized officials, with political party agents, accredited observers, and the media afforded full opportunity to scrutinize their handling. They urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to publicly account for the chain of custody for every affected ballot box and ballot paper, ensuring that no security officer exercises unsupervised control over these vital materials, thereby safeguarding Zambia election integrity.

Further, the bishops questioned the deployment of the army for election-related security duties, arguing that maintaining order during elections is primarily the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service. They warned that the visible presence of soldiers and military vehicles at polling and tallying centers could intimidate voters, election officials, and party agents, raising Zambia general election security concerns. This Zambia army deployment election duties issue highlights a potential constitutional breach regarding the separation of powers and roles of state agencies.

The ZCCB also called for transparency regarding the treatment of opposition political actors, citing allegations of harassment by armed officers and claims that some individuals had temporarily gone unaccounted for. While acknowledging that some of these reports lacked independent verification, the bishops insisted that anyone held by state agencies must be accounted for, granted access to lawyers and family members, and either formally charged according to law or released. This demand addresses critical concerns about Zambia political actors harassment and due process rights.

The intervention by the ZCCB carries significant weight due to its established influence within Zambia. As the national body representing the country's Catholic bishops, it serves as the highest consultative policymaking authority for the Catholic Church in Zambia, coordinating its social and pastoral work nationwide. Its potential impact is substantial, given that Catholicism is one of Zambia's largest Christian denominations; the 2022 national census reported that Catholics constituted 17.9% of Zambia's Christian population, making it the largest single denomination, narrowly surpassing Seventh-day Adventists and Pentecostals, within a country where Christianity accounts for 98% of the populace.

Moreover, the bishops have a recognized role in electoral observation and civic engagement, notably through Caritas Zambia, which is part of the non-partisan Christian Churches Monitoring Group. Their statement came amidst escalating tensions surrounding the delayed presidential results of the 2021 election. Then-opposition candidate Brian Mundubile had publicly questioned the delays and alleged interference in the electoral process, while then-candidate Hakainde Hichilema had urged citizens to maintain peace and await the official results. The ECZ, for its part, had cautioned candidates against prematurely declaring victory during the 2021 election. The ZCCB's detailed concerns regarding ballot custody, security force deployment, and the rights of detained political actors underscore critical areas of scrutiny that could form the basis of future legal challenges, emphasizing the importance of Zambia Catholic Bishops election transparency ECZ oversight for maintaining public confidence and upholding the rule of law.

Lawyers should advise clients, particularly political parties and candidates, on potential grounds for electoral petitions or challenges based on alleged procedural irregularities and constitutional breaches, specifically concerning ballot chain of custody, security force deployment, and the rights of detained political actors to legal access. This story highlights areas of heightened scrutiny that could form the basis of future legal action.

Source: Original reporting via Catholic Bishops Conference of Zambia