On August 30, 2016, Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), a prodemocracy coalition of 31 non-governmental organizations, facilitated a public seminar in Harare, Zimbabwe. Members of the network presented their observations of Zambia’s recent elections which described a government clamp down on independent media coverage and polling stations that experienced late openings, missing materials, and delayed vote counting.

This election was the first time Zambia used a new “Majoritarian” voting system instead of the “First-past-the-post” system it previously had in place. The voting system is designed to make it difficult for minority parties to dominate public offices, prevent the need for presidential re-runs, and promote collaborative coalition-building among parties that would otherwise be too small to secure enough votes to win. While the switch in voting systems didn’t eliminate disputes for this election, it may prove beneficial in the long run if it prompts parties to work together.

United Party for National Development (UPND) party leader, Hakainde Hichilema, has accused the ruling party’s leader, Edgar Lungu, of voter fraud. Hichilema disputed the election results and filed a petition with the newly formed Constitutional Court. The petition was rejected and Lungu was inaugurated as the new President of Zambia on September 13. The ZESN identified Zambia’s new use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and social media, as an effective tool in increasing their voter registration of people typically underrepresented in Zambian politics, such as women, individuals living with disabilities, and youth. ZESN observes elections to share and discuss best practices to “enhance the election process” in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s next elections are set to take place in 2018.