Zambian Catholic Bishops Issue Stern Warning Against Tribalism and Violence Ahead of Pivotal August 13 Polls!
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has issued a pastoral statement urging Zambians to safeguard peace and reject violence ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Elections. They called for impartial action from electoral bodies and encouraged voters to prioritize the common good over tribal or personal interests.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has issued a poignant pastoral statement, dated July 16, 2026, from Kapingila House in Lusaka, urging all Zambians to safeguard peace and uphold democratic values ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Elections. The Bishops expressed deep concern that political violence threatens the nation's hard-won democratic gains, emphasizing that politics should be understood as a service to the common good rather than a pursuit of privilege.
The statement, signed by ZCCB President Most Rev. Ignatius Chama, Archbishop of Kasama, and Vice President Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde, Bishop of Solwezi, along with ten other bishops, highlighted encouraging participation in voter registration and candidate nominations. However, the Bishops voiced alarm over increasing reports of intolerance and clashes among party supporters across the country. They condemned a resurgence of political thuggery, cadreism, attacks on candidates, threats of retaliation, and even deaths, unequivocally stating that Zambia must not revert to