FAQs

1. Is The COPPA Book Awards Initiative a Government Program?
No, The COPPA Book Awards Initiative is not a government-owned program. However, the organizers collaborate with government bodies and delegates to help facilitate the awards.

2. How Much Do COPPA Book Awards Winners Receive?
While the prizes vary each year, winners and runners-up receive a mix of material items, exclusive opportunities, and financial support.

3. Where Will the 2025 COPPA Book Awards Be Held?
The hosting town changes each year. The town and exact venue for the 2025 COPPA Book Awards will be officially announced soon.

4. How Does the Initiative Raise Funds to Run the Program?
The organizers of The COPPA Book Awards partner with individuals and businesses whose values align with the initiative. These collaborations and investments make it possible to fund the program. Interested in becoming an official sponsor? Get in touch via our contact page.

5. How Many Authors Have Been Recognized by The COPPA Book Awards Initiative?
Since its inaugural event in 2023, The COPPA Book Awards Initiative has recognized a total of 40 writers across two annual ceremonies. This year, the initiative plans to honor over 20 writers in various categories.

6. How Will The 2025 Awards Be Conducted, What’s The Procedure?

The annual COPPA Book Awards 2025 are set to be a grand celebration, following the success of the previous editions in 2023 and 2024. This year’s event is expected to bring together a diverse group of authors, along with key stakeholders, including government representatives.

Last year’s awards were a resounding success, showcasing talented authors across various categories. The 2025 awards will kick off with public nominations, allowing both individual writers and the public to submit entries for participation. Once nominations close, the board will announce the list of nominated authors and their books for public voting in each category. The voting results will contribute to a percentage of the final score.

After the voting deadline, the system will close, and a selected number of authors from each category will advance to the second stage of the competition. At this point, nominated authors must submit their books for a judicial review process conducted by an expert panel.

The final ranking, 1st Prize Winner, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category, will be determined by combining the public voting score (40%) and the judicial review score (60%).

This year, the awards will feature over 10 book categories, providing a platform for a wide range of literary talent. Stay tuned to this page for updates, key dates, and details on how to participate and where and when the awards will be held.

7. Who Is Eligible to Participate in the Annual COPPA Book Awards?
Participants must be Zambian, and their submitted book should not be more than five years old as of the award year.

8. Can I Nominate Myself?
Yes, nominations are open to everyone. You are allowed to nominate yourself.

9. Why Does the COPPA Book Awards Charge Per Vote Cast on Their Website?
The organizers of the COPPA Book Awards charge a fee of up to K2.50 per vote during the voting process. The funds collected are used to cover system maintenance and help offset some of the operational costs incurred during preparations. Please make sure to read the website’s Terms and Conditions for more details.

10. How Many Books in Each Category Will Proceed to the Next Stage?
Three books per category will advance to the final stage of The COPPA Book Awards. These must be from different authors. The top 3 authors will be required to submit hardcopies for judicial review. The 1st prize winner will be announced at the Grand Ceremony of the 2025 COPPA Book Awards.

11. How Are the Judges Selected?
The judging panel rotates each year and is composed of veteran, published writers with notable achievements and contributions to Zambia’s literary growth. Judges’ names are not publicly disclosed but may be announced or introduced during the ceremony.

12. Will All Top 3 Authors from Each Category Attend the Ceremony?
Yes, all top 3 authors in each category will receive formal invitations to the 2025 COPPA Book Awards Ceremony, along with one guest each. The board will provide a special seating ticket for each author and one for their guest.

13. How Many Times Can I Vote in a Day?
You can vote as many times as you want — there’s no limit!

14. Why Is My Vote Percentage Dropping?
Each category starts with a total of 100%. When the first author gets a vote, they receive the full 100%. As other authors start getting votes, the 100% is shared among them based on the number of votes each one has. So, if your percentage is dropping, it simply means other authors are getting more votes and taking a portion of that 100%.

15. What Does a “Payment Processing Failed” Error Mean During Voting?

This error can happen for two main reasons, and each means something different:

1. Actual Payment Failure:
   If you see this error because of things like low balance, wrong number, or incorrect password, it means your payment didn’t go through, so your vote will not be counted.

2. System Glitch or Network Issue:
   Sometimes, if your internet connection is interrupted (like getting a call or message during payment), the system might fail to redirect you to the confirmation page. In this case, it will show a “payment processing failed” error, but your vote has actually gone through.

How to tell the difference?
If you receive a payment confirmation SMS from your mobile provider with a reference number, your payment was successful. The system will still count your vote by matching it with that payment reference number, even if the page didn’t load properly.

16. What’s the Best Way to Contact the COPPA Team and Get a Quick Response?
The fastest and most effective way to reach us is through our official contact page on this website or by emailing [email protected]. Due to the high number of inquiries, these channels give you the quickest response time.

17. Is the COPPA Book Awards a Licensed Program?
Yes. The COPPA Book Awards is a state-licensed program under the National Arts Council of Zambia, operating through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts. This license grants it the mandate to operate and promote local literary arts in Zambia. It also affirms the program’s full credibility, as it is officially recognized and approved by the Government of the Republic of Zambia. 

18. Why Have I Been Charged More Than K2.5 During the Voting Process?
Each successful vote is supposed to cost exactly K2.5. If you were charged more than this, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

• A page refresh or technical glitch may have caused two voting requests to be sent, leading to two password prompts and potentially submitting your vote twice.

• Another reason could be that your bank or mobile money provider charges a fee for that transaction. Please check your bank’s or mobile money provider’s transaction rates for more details

To avoid this, always check the amount displayed in the payment prompt before approving any transaction, and ensure that you have read your provider’s transaction charges if they apply.

19. When Will Voting Close for The COPPA Book Awards 2025?
Voting for The COPPA Book Awards 2025 will officially close on Monday, 14th April 2025, at exactly 6:00 PM. Finalists will be announced the following day, along with additional updates.

20. Why Aren’t the Votes Changing Despite Voting?
If you’ve noticed that your votes don’t seem to update after submitting them, try refreshing your browser. You may also need to clear your cache or temporarily disable it. Doing so will help ensure that you’re receiving real-time data from the website.