In a major milestone ahead of the 13 August general elections, a consignment of over 12 million ballot papers printed in Dubai touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport today under tight security.
The arrival clears the way for the final phase of distribution to more than 12,000 polling stations across the country.
The chartered Emirates SkyCargo flight landed shortly after 06H00, bearing sealed containers carrying presidential, parliamentary, and local government ballot papers, along with ballot paper tenders and voter instructions.
Senior officials from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), police, and representatives of participating political parties were on hand to witness the offloading and initial verification process.
ECZ Chairperson Justice Mwangala Zaloumis, addressing journalists at the airport cargo terminal, described the delivery as a "defining moment" in the electoral calendar.
“We are pleased to confirm the safe and punctual arrival of all sensitive election materials printed in Dubai. This consignment has been transported under strict protocols from the printing press all the way to Lusaka. Its arrival today is proof that we remain on course to deliver credible, transparent, and well-organized elections on 13 August.”
The ballot papers were produced by a Dubai-based security printing firm, Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing, which has handled election materials for several African nations.
Each ballot features multiple covert and overt security features, including unique serial numbers, watermarks, and tamper-evident inks, designed to prevent duplication and fraud.
Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba confirmed that a multi-agency security detail escorted the containers from the airport to the ECZ's central warehouse in Lusaka, where they will be stored in a 24-hour guarded facility with round-the-clock CCTV surveillance.
"We have deployed sufficient personnel both in uniform and plain clothes. No unauthorized access will be permitted, and the integrity of these materials will be preserved until they are dispatched to the districts.”
Political party representatives who observed the arrival expressed satisfaction with the transparency of the process.
The ECZ disclosed that the ballots will undergo a comprehensive audit and sorting exercise starting Thursday, before being packed into constituency-specific kits and transported by air and road to all 156 constituencies.
The first batch of materials is expected to arrive in provincial hubs by 04 August.
With just over two weeks until Zambia's seventh multi-party general elections, the arrival of the Dubai-printed ballot papers marks the transition from preparation to execution.
The commission urged voters to verify their details in the ongoing display of the provisional voters' register, which closes on 01 August and reiterated that all necessary health and logistical measures are in place for a peaceful vote.