Candidate Nomination

Presidential nominations

Qualifications

A person qualifies to be nominated as a candidate for election as a president if he/she:

• Is a citizen by birth or descent
• Has been ordinarily resident in Zambia
• Is at least thirty-five years old and above
• Is a registered voter
• Has obtained, as a minimum academic qualification, a Grade Twelve Certificate or its equivalent
• Is fluent in the official language (English)
• Has paid taxes or has made arrangements, satisfactory to the appropriate tax authority, for the payment of the taxes
• Declares their assets and liabilities
• Pays the prescribed election fee on, or before, the date fixed for the delivery of nomination papers; and
• Is supported by at least one hundred (100) registered voters from each province.

Requirements

• Duly completed Affidavit Form;
• Letter or certificate of adoption if sponsored by a political party;
• Duly completed nomination form;
• Aspiring candidate’s photograph measuring 32 x 25 mm on a prescribed background;
• Duly completed Declaration of compliance to the Electoral Code of Conduct; and
• Has a duly qualified running-mate

Disqualification in Presidential Nominations

A person is disqualified from being nominated as a candidate for election as president if he/she:

• is a public officer;
• has dual citizenship;
• is holding or acting in a Constitutional Office or other Public Office;
• is a judge or judicial officer;
• was removed from Public Office on grounds of gross misconduct in the immediate preceding five years;
• has a mental or physical disability that would make them incapable of performing the executive functions;
• is an undischarged bankrupt;
• is serving a sentence of imprisonment;
• has in the immediate preceding five years, served a term of imprisonment of at least three years; or
• has no qualified running-mate

Verification of supporters for Presidential Election Nominations.

The Commission shall prescribe the period during which the supporters for Presidential candidates will be verified at verification centers to be set out in all provinces, a candidate is required to have a minimum of 100 supporters from each of the 10 provinces.

National assembly election nomination

Qualifications

• A Zambian citizen.
• Twenty one (21) years and above.
• A registered voter.
• Has obtained a minimum academic qualification of Grade Twelve School Certificate or its equivalent.

Requirements

• Must have the support of fifteen registered voters in the constituency in which the candidate is contesting for election..
• Paid non-refundable nomination fees before or on the day of nomination.
• Declares personal assets and liabilities.
• Has paid all taxes or made arrangements with tax authority for the payment of taxes.
• Declaration of compliance to Electoral Code of Conduct.
• Complete and duly signed nomination forms.
• Letter or certificate of adoption of the candidate if not contesting as an independent candidate.
• Aspiring candidate’s photograph measuring 32 x 25 mm on a prescribed background;
• Duly completed affidavit form

Disqualification

A person is disqualified from being nominated as a candidate for election as president if he/she:

• A person who is validly nominated as candidate for Presidency.
• A Judge, Judicial Officer, Constitutional Office holder or Public Officer.
• A person declared bankrupt.
• One serving a sentence of imprisonment for an offence under any written law.
• Has served a term of imprisonment of at least 3 years in the last five years.
• Has been removed from public office for gross misconduct in the last five years.
• An Election Officer

Correction of clerical errors

• This category covers persons whose registration details have clerical errors. These clerical errors may be names, National Registration Card number, and Voter’s Card number which may have typing errors, wrong portrait or any other details on the Voters card.

Documents required for correction of clerical errors

• Persons are required to surrender the Voters card that has clerical errors to the Registration Officer in order to have their details corrected
• If an Voters card is not surrendered, a new one will not be issued.

Replacement of Voters Cards

This type of registration covers voters whose voter’s cards are lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced. The voter shall provide a police report under the following circumstances:

• When a voter’s card is lost.
• When a voter’s card is destroyed and the voter is not in possession of it.

Removal of the deceased Voters

This covers citizens applying for the removal of deceased persons from the Register of Voters. Documents required for removal of deceased Voters

• When a voter’s card is lost.
• When a voter’s card is destroyed and the voter is not in possession of it.

In other words, a person applying for the removal of a deceased voter from the register can use a sworn affidavit form only, as long as a person has identified him/herself using their green National Registration Card.

Change of name(s) in the Register of Voters

This category covers voters applying for change of names in the Register of Voters after obtaining a new National Registration Card.

Documents required to apply for the change of name(s) in the Register of Voters

• The new Green National Registration Card and
• A Deed Poll or Marriage Certificate, whichever may be applicable.

Omissions

This covers a person who is in possession of a voter’s card but his or her details have been omitted in the Register of Voters.

Mayoral/Council chairpersons

Qualifications

• A Zambian citizen
• Twenty one (21) years and above.
• A registered voter.
• Has obtained a minimum academic qualification of Grade Twelve School Certificate or its equivalent.

Requirements

• Must have the support of fifteen (15) supporters who are registered voters within that particular district.
• Paid non-refundable nomination fees before or on the day of nomination..
• Declares personal assets and liabilities.
• Has paid all taxes or made arrangements with tax authority for the payment of taxes.
• Declaration of compliance to Electoral Code of Conduct.
• Complete and duly signed nomination forms.
• Letter or certificate of adoption of the candidate if not contesting as an independent candidate.
• Aspiring candidate’s photograph measuring 32 x 25 mm on a prescribed background;
• An Election Officer

Disqualification

• A person who is validly nominated as candidate for Presidency.
• A Judge, Judicial Officer, Constitutional Office holder or Public Officer.
• A person declared bankrupt.
• One serving a sentence of imprisonment for an offence under any written law.
• Has served a term of imprisonment of at least 3 years in the last five years.
• Has been removed from public office for gross misconduct in the last five years.
• An Election Officer

Councilor election nominations

Qualifications

• Is nineteen (19) years and above
• Has obtained a minimum academic qualification of Grade Twelve (12) certificate or its equivalent.
• Is a citizen or a holder of a resident permit, resident in the district.
• Has a certificate of clearance showing the payment of council taxes, where applicable.

Requirements

• Nine supporters who are registered voters within that particular ward.
• Duly completed Affidavit Form.
• Letter or certificate of adoption if sponsored by a political party.
• Duly completed Declaration of Compliance to the Electoral Code of Conduct.
• Paid a non-refundable nomination fees before or on the day of nomination as prescribed.
• Aspiring candidate’s photograph measuring 32 x 25 mm on a prescribed background.

Withdrawal of nomination papers

A candidate or election agent appointed by a candidate may withdraw, in writing, the nomination papers at any time before the close of the nomination period.

Unopposed election

If only one person was determined to have validly filed in nomination papers, the Returning Officer shall declare such a one as duly elected (unopposed).

Party Symbols

Political parties and independent candidates have symbols that they use during campaigns and identify them on ballot papers which they submit during Nominations.

Right to challenge the nomination of a candidate

• The nomination of any candidate may be challenged by any person within seven (7) days of the close of nominations before a court or tribunal.
• The court or tribunal shall hear the case within twenty one (21) days of its lodgment.
• This process must be completed at least thirty (30) days before the general elections.

Note: In case of a candidate dying, or in an event that the court disqualifies a candidate after nominations but before election day, ECZ shall cancel the election and call for fresh nominations and elections to be held within thirty (30) days of filling fresh nominations.