THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says the charter flight that was scheduled to deliver ballot papers yesterday will instead arrive in Zambia on Tuesday morning following a revision to the flight schedule.

ECZ Commissioner Ambassador Ndiyoi Mutiti says the chartered flight has now been changed to a bigger aircraft that will carry ballot papers that were scheduled for delivery on Sunday and Monday, together with a portion of Tuesday’s consignment.

In a briefing from Dubai, Sunday, Ambassador Mutiti explained that the consignments would depart Dubai today at 23:00 Dubai time, which is 21:00 hours Zambian time, and arrive in Lusaka at 05:00 hours on Tuesday, July 28.

She said the printer would provide further details on the remaining flight schedule and packing lists.

“The Commission would like to reiterate that as earlier advised, the first consignment of ballot papers should have arrived in Lusaka today, Sunday, 26th July 2026. However, there has been a revision to the chartered flight schedule by the air operator. The Commission has been advised by the charter company that the aircraft scheduled to deliver the first consignment today, Sunday, 26th July 2026 will not operate as earlier communicated. Therefore, the two consignments which should have arrived on Sunday and Monday will both be delivered on a single flight capable of carrying 100 tonnes. This flight will depart Dubai at 23:00 hours Dubai time, which is 21:00 hours Zambian time on Monday 27th July 2026 and arrive in Lusaka in the morning of Tuesday 28th July at 05:00 hours Zambian time. The printer will provide further details of the rest of the flight schedule and packing lists and stakeholders shall be advised accordingly,” Ambassador Mutiti said.

When asked about NRPUP’s claims that the ECZ was managing the movement of ballot papers from Dubai with suspicious secrecy, Ambassador Mutiti rejected the claims, saying the Commission had been transparent throughout the process.

“Right from the beginning of this process, all of you stakeholders who are here in Dubai are witnesses to the fact that the Commission has been extremely transparent and has involved every stakeholder in the process from the beginning to the end. That is why the nation, who have been following on social media, are also witnesses to the fact that members of the stakeholder [groups] have been inspecting the ballot papers and they have also been inspecting the pallets right up to the moment those pallets were on the plane. The lists have also been shared. There is actually a WhatsApp group for our stakeholders here in Dubai, and the lists were also shared on that WhatsApp group. So what is obtaining on the ground and what you are asking me are not in tandem, because the stakeholders here are witnesses to the fact that the level of transparency demonstrated by the Electoral Commission of Zambia has been above board,” said Ambassador Mutiti.