Aspiring Independence Ward 17 councillor Hartley C. Munyama has praised the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for successfully certifying the 2026 Voter Register, describing the milestone as a major step forward for Zambia’s democracy.
The ECZ recently confirmed that the new voter register contains 8,786,300 eligible voters, with 4,066,423 young people making up 46.3% of the electorate — the highest level of youth participation ever recorded in the country.
Mr. Munyama commended the Commission for what he called a significant achievement in strengthening citizen participation, noting that the strong youth turnout signals growing confidence in Zambia’s democratic processes.
He also attributed the increased participation to the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, saying the environment has encouraged more young people to take part in shaping the nation’s future.
The aspiring councillor further called on community leaders and residents in Lusaka Central to intensify mobilisation efforts ahead of the August 2026 general elections, stressing the role of local leadership in encouraging voter turnout.