LUSAKA - ActionAid Zambia says there is no basis to conclude that the opposition cannot win the 2026 General Election simply because it has not fielded parliamentary candidates in all constituencies.
The organisation’s Country Director, Faides Tembatemba, was responding to claims that the opposition is unlikely to secure victory after failing to field candidates in 72 constituencies ahead of next month’s polls.
Speaking in an interview with Phoenix News, Ms. Tembatemba said it is merely an assumption to suggest that any political party is guaranteed victory before the electorate has cast its vote.
She stressed that Zambians have a constitutional right to freely choose the candidates they wish to elect.
Ms. Tembatemba further noted that opposition political parties have encountered several challenges during the electoral process that may have affected their ability to field candidates in every constituency.
She cited constituency delimitation, increased nomination fees, and the nomination process as some of the factors that may have disadvantaged opposition parties.
Ms. Tembatemba said these challenges should be considered before drawing conclusions about the outcome of the election.
Source: Phoenix News