CCMG PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE CONDUCT OF THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS

The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) has issued its preliminary statement regarding the conduct of the 2026 general elections, marking a critical milestone in Zambia's democratic journey. Operating as a nonpartisan and independent coalition, CCMG deployed a robust network of 1,500 stationary monitors and 156 mobile monitors spanning every province, district, and constituency nationwide. This extensive deployment was designed to ensure comprehensive oversight of polling station setups, voting procedures, and the initial counting phases. At the core of CCMG's independent monitoring framework is the Process and Result Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology, historically known as parallel vote tabulation. By gathering systematic data from across the country, the coalition aims to independently verify the accuracy of the official presidential results released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). CCMG leadership noted that preliminary data collection proceeded smoothly across the vast majority of sampled stations, offering citizens an objective benchmark against which official figures can be measured. While the general voting environment remained largely peaceful, the preliminary findings did highlight specific operational hurdles and localized friction points. Observers reported minor procedural inconsistencies during the opening of certain polling streams, alongside isolated incidents of tension as crowds gathered to monitor the tallying process. Civil society organizations have continuously stressed that transparency and prompt communication from electoral authorities are vital to mitigating anxiety and safeguarding public trust during the post-election window. CCMG's proactive stance underscores the indispensable role that faith-based and civil society coalitions play in bolstering electoral integrity in Zambia. By maintaining an independent parallel tracking system, the coalition provides a crucial layer of accountability that reassures