THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cautioned political parties and individuals who are not contesting the Chawama Parliamentary and Kasama Mayoral by-elections to refrain from using campaign regalia or symbols during the campaigns.

Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the commission has noted with concern that some political parties and individuals who are not participating in the Chawama Parliamentary by-election appear to be engaging in campaign activities using party regalia, symbols or colours that do not belong to participating parties or candidates.

“ECZ wishes to remind all political parties, candidates and campaign teams in the Chawama Parliamentary by-election scheduled for January 15, 2026, as well as those engaged in ongoing campaigns in Kasama, to strictly adhere to the law regarding the use of campaign regalia,” he said.

Mr Kasaro said such conduct has the potential to confuse voters and undermine order in the electoral process.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 2 of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2026 defines ‘campaign material’ as party or candidate manifestos, advertisements, billboards, posters, T-shirts, cloth or other material depicting colours, symbols and other designs of a party, or pictorial images of a candidate,” he said.

Mr Kasaro further stated that Section 89(1)(n) provides that “a person shall not, being a candidate, use a symbol in the course of an election other than the symbol registered with the Chief Electoral Officer”.

“Accordingly, only political parties and candidates duly participating in the Chawama Parliamentary by-election and the Kasama Mayoral by-election may use their registered party regalia, symbols and colours for campaign purposes in the constituency,” he said.

Mr Kasaro said the guidance is based on legal provisions and is consistent with past practices of the commission, including guidance issued ahead of previous elections to prevent voter confusion and promote electoral integrity.

(Mwebantu, Saturday, 10th January, 2026)