No evidence supports claims that Zambia’s ballot papers are being printed in Tanzania. ECZ says ballot printing is taking place exclusively in Dubai under the supervision of accredited electoral stakeholders.
Claim
On 16 July 2026, a Facebook page called The Candidates published a post claiming that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had completed the printing of extra ballot papers in Tanzania and that these ballot papers would soon be secretly brought into Zambia.
Note: To avoid amplifying misinformation, iVerify Zambia has deliberately removed the direct link to the original Facebook post containing the false claim. The claim was nevertheless reviewed and verified as part of our fact-checking process.
Verdict: FALSE
The claim is false. There is no evidence that ballot papers for Zambia’s 13 August 2026 General Election are being printed in Tanzania. The Electoral Commission of Zambia has publicly refuted the allegation and confirmed that all ballot papers are being printed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) under stakeholder supervision.
Why This Matters
Claims about secret ballot printing or electoral manipulation can undermine public confidence in the electoral process, increase political tensions, and discourage peaceful participation in elections. Accurate information about election administration is essential to protecting the credibility and integrity of democratic processes.
What We Found
iVerify Zambia reviewed the Facebook claim and searched for official information regarding the printing of ballot papers for the 13 August 2026 General Election.
Our verification found no official announcement, documentary evidence, or credible reporting supporting the allegation that ballot papers were being printed in Tanzania.
Instead, iVerify Zambia found an official statement issued by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) dismissing the claim as false and malicious.
According to ECZ:
- Ballot papers for the 13 August 2026 General Election are being printed exclusively by Al Gurair Printing and Publishing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- The printing process is being witnessed by representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, the media, and other accredited electoral stakeholders.
- Once printing is completed, the ballot papers will be transported by air directly from Dubai to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
ECZ stated that there are no ballot papers being printed in Tanzania and urged members of the public to disregard the circulating social media claim.
Evidence
The verification relied on:
- The Facebook post published by The Candidate on 16 July 2026, claiming extra ballot papers were being printed in Tanzania.
- An official statement issued by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) confirming that ballot papers are being printed only at Al Gurair Printing and Publishing in Dubai, UAE, under stakeholder observation, and rejecting the Tanzania claim as false.
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia rates this claim False because it is unsupported by any credible evidence and directly contradicted by official information from the Electoral Commission of Zambia. The Commission has publicly explained where the ballot papers are being printed, who is observing the process, and how the ballot papers will be transported to Zambia. No evidence has been presented to substantiate the allegation that additional ballot papers are being printed in Tanzania.
Conclusion
The claim that the Electoral Commission of Zambia is printing extra ballot papers in Tanzania is false. Available evidence shows that ballot papers for the 13 August 2026 General Election are being printed by Al Gurair Printing and Publishing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under the observation of accredited electoral stakeholders, and will be transported directly to Zambia by air. The social media claim appears intended to create unnecessary public suspicion about the electoral process without providing any verifiable evidence.
Fact-Checking Methodology
To verify this claim, iVerify Zambia:
- Identified and reviewed the original Facebook post making the allegation.
- Examined official statements issued by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
- Compared the claim against publicly available information on the ballot printing process for the 2026 General Election.
- Applied the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) Code of Principles, assessing the claim against verifiable documentary evidence and official records.
Sources
- Facebook post by The Candidates (16 July 2026).
- Official statement by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) confirming ballot papers are being printed in Dubai and dismissing claims that printing is taking place in Tanzania.
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
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