Nominations for the upcoming Ad-hoc Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) elections closed on Thursday, 18th September 2025, at 19:00 hours. The IEC, with Mwandu Nsama from Nsama and Company Legal Practitioners serving as Ad-Hoc Chairperson representing the LAZ Council, confirmed that five applications successfully met all constitutional and procedural requirements. Each prospective candidate was required to submit a copy of their National Registration Card, a valid Grade 12 certificate, a summarized curriculum vitae, proof of fully paid-up party membership, and a mandatory nomination fee of K45,000.

Following a thorough vetting process, the IEC declared the following five contenders successful, listed alphabetically by surname: Ernest Chituwa Mwansa, nominated for President; Dr. Bupe Auxilia Ponga, nominated for President and Vice President; Richewell Siamunene, nominated for President, Trustee, and Chairperson for Lands and Natural Resources; Robert Kenneth Kaponda Sichinga, nominated for President and Chairperson roles in Economics and Finance; and Kapembwa Simbao, nominated for President and Trustee.

The IEC further announced a critical timeline for the electoral process. The official campaign period commenced on Friday, 19th September, and is set to conclude on Monday, 22nd September 2025. A peer review process is scheduled for the same day, Monday, 22nd September, with the party elections themselves slated for Tuesday, 23rd September 2025.

Delivering remarks at the conclusion of the announcement, George Chulumanda highly commended the ad-hoc commission's diligent work and praised the transparent manner in which the nomination process was handled. He emphasized that ZWW is distinguishing itself as one of the few political parties in Zambia actively demonstrating genuine internal democracy and openness. The entire event was monitored and livestreamed by EMV, ensuring that the public received information in real-time.

With the campaign period now officially underway, ZWW is entering a decisive phase that will thoroughly test its internal unity and organizational strength. The outcomes of these upcoming elections are crucial, as they will not only determine the party's leadership but also significantly shape how ZWW positions itself as a credible political alternative on Zambia’s dynamic political landscape leading up to the 2026 General Elections.