LUSAKA - The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has cautioned broadcasters against airing speculative election results, campaign interviews and opinion poll findings as Zambia prepares to vote on Thursday, August 13.
IBA Director-General Webster Malido said broadcasters must strictly adhere to the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines and ensure that all election-related content is accurate, balanced, fair and verified.
Mr. Malido said broadcasters may report on the progress of voting, counting and tallying, but must not announce projected, speculative or unverified results.
He stressed that election results should only be broadcast once they have been officially announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Broadcasters were also reminded not to air campaign interviews featuring political parties or candidates on election day, nor broadcast predictions of election outcomes.
Mr. Malido urged broadcasters to exercise caution when handling information obtained from social media, political actors, commentators and other unofficial sources, warning against the spread of misinformation and unverified reports.
He further reminded broadcasters to ensure fair and equitable coverage of all political parties and candidates while avoiding content that promotes hate speech, tribalism and violence.
The IBA also reminded the public, political parties and candidates that complaints over election coverage should first be lodged with the concerned broadcasting station, which is expected to respond within two days during the election period.
Unresolved complaints, or cases where the complainant is dissatisfied with the station's response, may then be escalated to the IBA for investigation and possible action.
Mr. Malido said the IBA would continue monitoring election-related broadcasts throughout the electoral period to promote compliance with the law and the election coverage guidelines.
Source: Ministry of Information and Media - Zambia |