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Viral posts and images circulating on social media claim that the United Nations (UN), UN election observers and observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have confirmed that an opposition presidential candidate won Zambia's general election held on 13 August 2026.
The claim that the United Nations confirmed the victory of an opposition presidential candidate in Zambia is false.
The UN in Zambia has warned about false and misleading information circulating on social media claiming that UN observers congratulated a presidential candidate following the 13 August 2026 elections.
The UN clarified that it does not have an electoral observation mandate in Zambia and did not deploy election observers for the 13 August elections. Therefore, claims that the UN or its representatives endorsed, congratulated or commented on the winner of the election are false and misleading.
The claim also refers to SADC observers. Unlike the UN, SADC did deploy an Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to Zambia for the 13 August general election.
According to an official SADC statement, the mission deployed observers across all 10 provinces to monitor the pre-election period, polling day, vote counting and the immediate post-election process. SADC scheduled the release of its preliminary statement for 15 August 2026.
However, the deployment of SADC observers does not mean that SADC confirmed the victory of any presidential candidate. No official SADC statement identified an opposition candidate as the winner at the time of this fact-check.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) temporarily suspended the counting of votes following incidents involving attacks on election officials and the theft of election materials. Counting was later resumed after the commission said the security situation had been brought under control.
ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the counting process had resumed after security measures were strengthened. The commission was still counting and announcing results from different provinces, and no final national presidential result had been officially declared at the time of publication.
Reports also emerged that opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile had claimed victory. However, the claim was not supported by an official declaration of the national result by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The UN has no electoral observation mandate in Zambia and did not deploy election observers for the election. Although SADC deployed an official electoral observation mission, there is no evidence that it had declared an opposition candidate the winner.
At the time there is no official presidential results had not yet been fully declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The post have been shared here, here, here, here, here, here, here,
The claim that the United Nations confirmed the victory of an opposition presidential candidate in Zambia is false.
The UN in Zambia has warned about false and misleading information circulating on social media claiming that UN observers congratulated a presidential candidate following the 13 August 2026 elections.
The UN clarified that it does not have an electoral observation mandate in Zambia and did not deploy election observers for the 13 August elections. Therefore, claims that the UN or its representatives endorsed, congratulated or commented on the winner of the election are false and misleading.
The claim also refers to SADC observers. Unlike the UN, SADC did deploy an Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to Zambia for the 13 August general election.
According to an official SADC statement, the mission deployed observers across all 10 provinces to monitor the pre-election period, polling day, vote counting and the immediate post-election process. SADC scheduled the release of its preliminary statement for 15 August 2026.
However, the deployment of SADC observers does not mean that SADC confirmed the victory of any presidential candidate. No official SADC statement identified an opposition candidate as the winner at the time of this fact-check.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) temporarily suspended the counting of votes following incidents involving attacks on election officials and the theft of election materials. Counting was later resumed after the commission said the security situation had been brought under control.
ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the counting process had resumed after security measures were strengthened. The commission was still counting and announcing results from different provinces, and no final national presidential result had been officially declared at the time of publication.
Reports also emerged that opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile had claimed victory. However, the claim was not supported by an official declaration of the national result by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The UN has no electoral observation mandate in Zambia and did not deploy election observers for the election. Although SADC deployed an official electoral observation mission, there is no evidence that it had declared an opposition candidate the winner.
At the time there is no official presidential results had not yet been fully declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The post have been shared here, here, here, here, here, here, here,
