Lusaka, Zambia, 21st November 2025 – Zambia today took a major step toward safeguarding democratic processes by launching the Zambia Action Coalition on Information Integrity in Elections, a multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to countering misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after elections.

The launch took place during the Symposium on Building Resilient Electoral Ecosystems – Strengthening Information Integrity in the Digital Age, and was attended by representatives from government, civil society, media institutions, academia, technology partners, and the United Nations system.

Speaking during the launch, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia, Ms. Mwangala Zaloumis, SC., underscored the importance of establishing the Coalition, noting that it represents a critical and timely step toward strengthening the credibility of Zambia’s electoral processes and ensuring that all citizens have access to factual, reliable information as they participate in democratic life.

UNDP Resident Representative Dr. James Wakiaga reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting Zambia’s democratic governance and highlighted that the Coalition marks an important milestone toward enhanced electoral preparedness and resilience. He stated, “With the establishment of this Coalition, we can report here that Zambia has not waited for the future to arrive. Zambia is providing leadership and asserting boldly that democracy must adapt to frontier technologies but will not allow frontier technologies to destabilise democracy.”

Misinformation and disinformation continue to pose serious threats to electoral integrity by undermining public trust, distorting voter perceptions, and weakening democratic institutions. The establishment of the Coalition formalizes a national mechanism to coordinate efforts, share information, and strengthen digital resilience across sectors.

The Symposium also explored the evolving landscape of digital threats, including AI-generated deepfakes, targeted online abuse, micro-targeting, and algorithmic amplification, and discussed how these phenomena can distort voter perceptions, undermine public confidence, and disproportionately affect women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

The Coalition brings together key institutions, including the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the Ministry of Information and Media, media organisations, fact-checking groups, civil society organisations, academia, and technology partners. It builds on Zambia’s progress through platforms such as iVerify Zambia and aligns with the Global Action Coalition launched by UNDP’s Global Policy Centre for Governance.

Following the launch, the Coalition will initiate several follow-up actions, including:

• Finalizing a comprehensive mapping of Zambia’s electoral information ecosystem;
• Capacity-building workshops for media, fact-checkers, and civil society;
• Nationwide media literacy and public awareness campaigns;
• Establishment of an Information Integrity Monitoring Hub;
• Knowledge exchange with regional and global Coalitions.

These efforts aim to deepen public awareness, enhance institutional preparedness, and foster a safer, more trustworthy information environment ahead of the 2026 elections.

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For more information and media interviews, contact:

Takawira Musavengana, Senior Advisor and Project Manager for the Deepening Democracy Project, takawira.musavengana@undp.org 

Mercy Khozi, Communications Analyst, mercy.khozi@undp.org 

ABOUT THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA

The Electoral Commission of Zambia is established under Article 229 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016. The Commission came into existence as an Electoral Management Body (EMB) in 1996.

In accordance with Article 229 (2) of the Constitution of Zambia, the Commission has the mandate to carry out the following functions:

• implement the electoral process;
• conduct elections and referenda;
• register voters;
• settle minor electoral disputes, as prescribed;
• regulate the conduct of voters and candidates;
• accredit observers and election agents, as prescribed;
• delimit electoral boundaries; and
• perform such other functions as prescribed

ABOUT UNDP

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in some 177 countries and territories, we offer a global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.