Common Cause Zambia - CCZ

07/05/2026

Statement on the Cancellation of RightsCon Zambia: Accountability, Transparency, and the Protection of Zambia’s Digital Future: You cannot build a Digital future by shutting down digital dialogue. RightsCon was more than a conference it was Zambia’s seat at the global table on digital rights, AI, cybersecurity, and internet governance. Now the world is asking questions. So are we. SACCORDD Advocates For Democratic Governance Foundation - ADEG OpenNet4.0 ZambiaMichenja Sustainable Development OrganisationHuman Rights Commission- ZambiaHuman Rights Watch@followers

01/05/2026

Official statement on why RightsCon won’t take place in Zambia

Following our April 29 announcement, we believe it's important to be transparent about the context that led to the decision. We want to explain, where we can, why this was made on such short notice, only days before we were set to host RightsCon.

Read: https://rightscon.org/rc26-statement/

14/04/2026

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will on Thursday, 16th April 2026, 09:30 hours announce the 70 new constituencies

02/04/2026

Common Cause Zambia participated in the launch of a report on women’s access to electoral justice, organized by SAIPAR’s SEDROBZ II Project in partnership with IFES ahead of the August polls. The event highlighted progress made and ongoing legal, institutional, and social barriers affecting women’s ability to seek justice, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration to strengthen inclusive and transparent electoral systems in Zambia.

27/03/2026

Zambia continues to use outdated, typewritten and laminated IDs making it one of the few countries in the SADC region without a fully digital and secure identification system. This raises serious concerns about identity security, fraud, and our country’s international reputation.

Recent concerns from the United States about the reliability of Zambian IDs highlight the urgency of reform. Without a secure and digitized system, it becomes difficult to verify citizenship and prevent misuse.

It is time for Zambia to modernize its national ID system moving to secure, digital, and verifiable IDs that protect citizens, strengthen trust, and safeguard the nation’s reputation.

12/03/2026

ZAMBIA CYBER SECURITY AGENCY WARNS OF MORE ARRESTS OVER CYBER-RELATED OFFENCES

By Nelson Zulu

The Zambia Cybersecurity Agency has warned that the country will see an increase in arrests for cyber-related offences, attributing the trend to perpetrators who persistently manufacture and spread falsehoods online.

In an interview with Phoenix News, agency Director General, Dr. Schmidt Chintu has described the fabrication of online material, including forged statements purporting to come from official sources such as state house, as troubling and damaging to public trust.

Dr. Chintu acknowledged that while detection and prosecution of cyber offenders can appear slow, authorities have capabilities to trace through digital forensics and collaboration with law enforcement.

He has warned that it is just a matter of time before all the cartels and individuals behind such actions will be dealt with.

Meanwhile, the cybersecurity body has urged the public to exercise caution online by verifying information with official channels before sharing, stressing that participation in circulating falsehoods can expose citizens to criminal liability.

PHOENIX NEWS

12/03/2026

🇿🇲 Happy Youth Day, Zambia! 🇿🇲

Today we celebrate the energy, creativity, and power of young people who are shaping the future of our country. At Common Cause Zambia, we believe that when young people come together with purpose, courage, and compassion, real change becomes possible.

Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow — you are the leaders of today. Your voices matter. Your ideas matter. Your actions matter.

Let this Youth Day be a reminder that every step you take toward unity, integrity, and positive change helps build a stronger Zambia for all. Together, let’s continue to stand for what is right, support one another, and create a future we can all be proud of.

✨ The future is in our hands — and it starts now.

11/03/2026

Digital identity systems are becoming a key part of modern governance and digital transformation. Our new report explores Zambia’s journey toward a national Digital ID system, highlighting opportunities for improved service delivery, financial inclusion, and digital governance. Over the next few days, we’ll share key insights from the report to help explain what Digital ID means for citizens, institutions, and the future of digital services in Zambia.
Join the conversation: What comes to mind when you hear the term Digital ID?

22/02/2026

18/02/2026

Last week, Common Cause Zambia convened a validation workshop on our research: “Understanding the Introduction of Digital ID in Zambia.”
What was clear was the fact that Digital ID is not just a new NRC card. It is meant to be infrastructure for Access to banking and mobile money, Social protection and health services, Secure
Why Digital ID should Concern Every Zambian!
elections and civic participation youth and women’s economic inclusion as well as cross-border trade and regional mobility among others.
Last year it was reported that Over 7 million identity records have already been digitised as part of Zambia’s digital transformation agenda which is governments efforst towards digitizing the legacy national registration card. The Digital ID underpins eKYC systems that enable financial access for small businesses and informal traders.
However, without inclusive digital identity systems, women remain excluded from finance, youth struggle to access opportunities, citizens face barriers to government services and the already wide digital divide widens further.
Digital ID must be Secure, Rights-based, Inclusive and Citizen-driven. We cannot afford a rollout that leaves rural communities, persons with disabilities and the general citizenry behind because Digital ID is not a tech reform. It is a democracy and development issue.

06/02/2026

ECZ Begins Delimitation Ahead of 2026 Elections

By Hannock Kasama

The Electoral Commission of ZAMBIA –ECZ- has launched the Delimitation Exercise ahead of the 2026 General Election.

The exercise will be preceded by stakeholder consultations across all 116 districts from February 16 to 20, 2026.

ECZ Chairperson MWANGALA ZALOUMIS announced the development today during a stakeholders’ meeting held in LUSAKA.

Ms. ZALOUMIS said the 70 new constituencies will be published in the Government Gazette on April 15, 2026.

She explained that the new constituencies will only take effect on May 15, 2026, following the dissolution of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Ms. ZALOUMIS disclosed that the 2026 voters’ register will be certified on April 30, 2026.

She said members of the public will, before that date, be given an opportunity to inspect and verify their voter details.

At the same meeting, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer BROWN KASARO announced that no new wards will be created during the delimitation process.

Mr. KASARO said, however, that polling districts will be reorganised to align with the newly created constituencies.