Customized Introduction to Electoral Administration for Zambia

Customised Introduction to Electoral Administration BRIDGE workshop for PEOs and DEOS in Zambia

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organised a 5-day Customised Introduction to Electoral Administration BRIDGE workshop from 11^th to 15^th December 2023. The course was attended by 27 District Electoral Officers (DEOs) and three Provincial Electoral Officers (PEOs) comprising nine Females and 21 Males from Central, North-Western and Copperbelt provinces at Protea Hotel in Ndola District. The training aimed at equipping the DEOs and PEOs with skills and knowledge in managing electoral processes as part of preparations for the 2026 General Elections. This was one of the ECZ planned five workshops running concurrently in the same week as an orientation training for all the 116 District Electoral Officers (DEOs) and 10 Provincial Electoral Officers (PEOs) using the BRIDGE module.

The workshop was opened by the ECZ chairperson Mrs. Mwangala Zaloumis. In her opening remarks Mrs Zaloumis encouraged participants for full and active participation and to take the opportunity to share the over 400 years of accumulated experiences and expertise to enhance their skills in preparation for the 13 August 2026 General Elections and beyond. She also stimulated participants to ensure that they embrace the values and ethics of the ECZ in their professional lives.

Topics covered in the workshop included background and history of BRIDGE, elections in the global context, the legal framework for elections including international instruments, types, roles and responsibilities of electoral management bodies, electoral systems, voter registration, sustainability and the electoral cycle, institutional excellence and boundary delimitation. PowerPoints were used for presentations and handouts provided for participants. Important websites were also provided for participants to access more reading materials on election related matters (BRIDGE website and ACE project).

Three BRIDGE facilitators participated in the delivery of the course namely Zefanias Matsimbe (Male, Mozambique, Accrediting Facilitator), Emma Mwiinga (Female, Zambia, TtF Complete Facilitator) and Steve Nyondo (Male, Zambia, TtF Complete Facilitator). Using adult learning and participatory methodologies, facilitators guided participants throughout the five days to ensure that the learning outcomes are met.

At the closing of the workshop, participants expressed satisfaction and commended ECZ for the timely organised BRIDGE workshop. The participants excitement was attested in the final evaluation and the vote of thanks given by the participants in which they stated that:

“The training was exceptional in content and delivery method. We enjoyed every part of it as it was practical and timely.”

Another participant wrote to one of the facilitators by stating:

“Good morning Mr Steve. Just wanted to tell you that the workshop met my expectation which was to fully understand the delimitation process and how to apply it in the case of Mwinilunga district, a constituency with 21 wards and 18349 km2 in size. Thank you once more to your team”.

The Chairperson – Mrs. Zaloumis, graced the closing ceremony immediately after the certification ceremony. She implored the participants, “that DEOs play an important role in the electoral process hence the investment in such capacity building initiatives in order to deliver credible elections”. She encouraged the participants to continue working hard and remain professional in the discharge of their duties.