The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) is deeply saddened by the harassment, victimization and intimidation of its duly accredited observer at Jordan UCZ Community School in Matero Constituency on 24 November 2025 by Mr. Miles Sampa.
Mr. Miles Sampa, who visited the named registration centre without accreditation, confronted CCMG’s observer questioning their presence at the centre, forcefully grabbed their accreditation card, and proceeded to take personal details of the observer. The incident occurred in full view of the Police and Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officials, institutions legally mandated to safeguard the rights, security, and operations of accredited observers. Despite the clear harassment of the observer, and the violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct by Mr. Sampa, neither the Police nor the ECZ intervened. Such actions violate established electoral procedures, and erode public trust in the electoral process.
Mr. Sampa’s subsequent decision to publish the observer’s personal information on his Facebook page is highly irresponsible and unacceptable. Publicly exposing the personal details of an accredited observer, including their photo and NRC number, not only violates their privacy and dignity but places the individual at increased personal risk. This conduct is a violation of Section 22 of the Cyber Crimes Act, 2025, and is contrary to the principles of electoral integrity and responsible leadership.
CCMG observers deployed across the country are duly accredited by the ECZ in accordance with the Electoral Process Act. Their role is to independently monitor electoral processes, promote transparency, and contribute to the integrity of Zambia’s electoral process. Observers must be allowed to operate freely, without harassment, interference, or intimidation from any stakeholder, as provided in the Electoral Code of Conduct. Further, the United Nations Special Rapporteurs for Human Rights and for the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Associations recognised election observers as human rights defenders in 2022, given the role that citizen election observers play in protecting fundamental civic and political freedoms, not just the right to vote and compete in elections, but also freedom of assembly and association, freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of movement, and non-discrimination, among other human rights.
CCMG strongly condemns this act of intimidation and calls on Mr. Sampa to immediately delete the social media post containing the observer’s personal information, and issue a public apology to the observer and to CCMG for his inappropriate and dangerous conduct. CCMG further calls on ECZ and the Zambia Police Service to uphold their legal obligations by ensuring that all accredited observers and monitors are adequately protected from harassment or interference and not let this incident set a dangerous precedent of impunity. Observers presence at registration centres is essential to strengthening transparency and public confidence in the ongoing voter registration exercise. CCMG remains committed to impartial, professional, and credible observation of all electoral processes, and will not be deterred by acts intended to intimidate or silence its observers.
