A letter circulated by the Tonse Alliance alleging that pre-marked ballot papers were en route to Zambia has been found to be false. The ECZ confirmed that no additional ballot papers were expected and described the claim as baseless and misleading. At the time the letter was circulated, all ballot papers had already been received, verified, and distributed to polling stations in the presence of political party representatives.
Claim
A letter dated 11 August 2026 from the Tonse Alliance alleged that pre-marked presidential and parliamentary ballot papers for Zambia’s 13 August 2026 General Elections were being transported to Zambia from Dubai through the Republic of South Africa.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1L9f5cxTfU/
Verdict: False
Rating Justification
iVerify Zambia investigated the claim and found it to be false. No credible evidence was presented to support the allegation that pre-marked ballot papers were in transit to Zambia from Dubai through South Africa. On 12 August 2026, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) issued a public notice dismissing the allegation as false and baseless. The Commission clarified that no ballot papers were expected from Dubai through South Africa, as all ballot papers for the 2026 General Elections had already been received, verified, and distributed to polling stations across the country. The ECZ further stated that the verification and distribution process was conducted in the presence of representatives of participating political parties, providing transparency and oversight throughout the process.
According to the Commission, the allegation that additional pre-marked ballot papers were being transported into Zambia was intended to create unnecessary panic, undermine public confidence in the electoral process, and strain regional relations. The ECZ urged the public to disregard the claim and encouraged eligible voters to participate peacefully in the election.
Conclusion
The claim that pre-marked presidential and parliamentary ballot papers were being transported to Zambia from Dubai through South Africa is false. The Electoral Commission of Zambia has confirmed that all ballot papers for the 2026 General Elections had already been received, verified, and distributed to polling stations in the presence of political party representatives. No credible evidence has been provided to support the Tonse Alliance’s allegation.
False claims about ballot papers and the electoral process can erode public trust, fuel unnecessary anxiety, and undermine confidence in democratic institutions. Citizens are encouraged to rely on official information from the ECZ and other credible sources and to verify election-related claims before sharing them.
Evidence
- ECZ Public Notice (12 August 2026): https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CD9m8gaCh/
Help Stop the Spread of Misinformation
Before sharing election-related content, verify whether it comes from credible and official sources. If you encounter suspicious claims, images, or videos, submit them to iVerify Zambia for independent verification.
📧 Email: factcheck@panos.org.zm
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Together, we can help protect the integrity of Zambia’s elections by promoting accurate, verified information.
