ECZ urges voters to verify before sharing posts

LUSAKA — The Electoral Commission of Zambia has urged citizens to verify information before sharing it, a plea that represents its push against election misinformation before the 13 August poll.

The appeal matters because false posts about candidates, results and the voting process spread fastest in the weeks before a vote, and unchecked rumours can shift turnout, inflame tension and erode trust in the count. Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said Zambians should exercise caution and confirm claims with official sources before passing them on.

The guidance came from the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the constitutional body that runs Zambian elections, through its Chief Electoral Officer. The commission framed the message as a public-information measure rather than a restriction on speech, and tied it to the rising volume of unverified material circulating on social platforms.

The warning lands against a backdrop of manipulated media in the campaign. Kwacha News reported when authorities warned over a fake AI video of former president Edgar Lungu, a case that showed how quickly fabricated content can travel. This story is part of our continuing politics coverage.

What the commission asked

Kasaro asked citizens to pause before resharing election material, to check claims against official channels, and to treat unverified posts about candidates and the process with caution. The commission positioned itself as the authoritative source for election information, from the voter roll and nomination details to polling logistics and, in time, results.

The request is voluntary — a behavioural appeal rather than a legal order — and rests on the idea that the cheapest defence against misinformation is a public that checks before it shares. The commission paired the message with its own role as the reference point: where a claim about the election can be confirmed or knocked down.

In the wake of the rising spread of misinformation, the Electoral Commission of Zambia urges citizens to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it.

— Brown Kasaro, Chief Electoral Officer, <a href="https://www.elections.org.zm/">Electoral Commission of Zambia</a>

Background

Election misinformation has become a fixture of campaigns worldwide, carried by the same social platforms that broaden access to information. The forms are familiar: doctored images, false claims about voting dates or locations, fabricated quotes attributed to officials, and manufactured results pushed before any count is complete.

Zambia's 13 August 2026 general election picks the president, the National Assembly and local councils on the same day, which multiplies the volume of claims voters must sort through. The commission has already moved on several integrity fronts, including the order that suspended campaigning in Mazabuka Central on security grounds and the earlier change to ballot symbols for independent candidates.

Synthetic media raises the stakes. Cheap tools now produce convincing fake audio and video, and a single fabricated clip can reach thousands before it is debunked. The verification appeal is the commission's low-cost first line: ask voters to slow down and check, rather than rely solely on takedowns after the fact.

What to watch

The first thing to watch is whether the commission backs the appeal with infrastructure — a fast, public channel where voters can confirm or report suspect claims. An appeal to verify works best when there is an easy place to verify, and the credibility of the message depends on that reference point being quick and reachable.

The second is coordination with platforms and the regulator. Misinformation spreads on services the commission does not control, so the practical test is whether it works with social platforms and the broadcasting and communications authorities to flag and slow false election content without straying into censorship.

The third is enforcement at the edges. Voluntary appeals sit alongside laws on false statements and incitement, and the line between curbing dangerous falsehoods and chilling legitimate debate is where these efforts are judged. The next decision point is whether the commission issues detailed guidance or a verification tool ahead of polling day.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions Zambian readers have been asking since the appeal. Short answers follow, drawn from the Electoral Commission of Zambia statement and from Kwacha News election coverage.

What is the ECZ asking voters to do?

In short, the commission is asking citizens to verify election information before sharing it. According to Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro, voters should exercise caution and confirm claims with official sources, and the data shows the appeal targets the rising spread of misinformation ahead of the 13 August poll.

Why is misinformation a concern in this election?

The answer is reach and timing. Evidence from campaigns worldwide shows false posts travel fastest in the weeks before a vote, and research demonstrates that unchecked rumours can shift turnout and erode trust in the count. Synthetic media, including fake video, sharpens the risk.

How can voters verify election claims?

Simply put, by checking against official sources. The commission positioned itself as the authoritative reference for the voter roll, the process and results. The key is to pause before resharing and confirm claims with the commission rather than relying on social posts.

Which election does the appeal relate to?

The answer is the 13 August 2026 general election, which picks the president, the National Assembly and local councils on the same day. Data on the poll shows the combined ballot multiplies the volume of claims voters must sort through, which is why the commission issued the appeal now.

What are the next steps the commission might take?

The key is infrastructure and coordination. According to the commission's stated role, the next signals are a fast public channel to confirm or report suspect claims and coordination with platforms and regulators. Watch for detailed guidance or a verification tool before polling day.

Sources

Electoral Commission of Zambia: official election information, statement attributed to Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro. Kwacha News coverage: the warning over a fake AI video of Edgar Lungu, the Mazabuka Central campaign suspension, and the change to ballot symbols for independent candidates.