Zambia: Catholic Bishops Express 'Grave Concern' Over Conduct of Zambia's Elections

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has expressed grave concern over the conduct of the General Election held on August 13th, 2026, and the events that followed. They emphasized that they are not supporting any political party or candidate, but rather defending the Constitution, rule of law, and the right of every Zambian to have their vote counted and respected.

The ZCCB noted the decision made by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to suspend the tallying and announcement of election results on August 14th, 2026, citing reports of violence against polling officials and theft of ballot papers. They denounced any conduct by political parties, security agencies, or individuals that contributed to this atmosphere of doubt and mistrust.

The bishops called on the ECZ to account for the chain of custody of affected ballot boxes and papers, and to ensure no security personnel, regardless of rank, had unsupervised control over these documents. They also criticized the deployment of army officers to police functions in connection with the election, stating that the maintenance of order should be the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service.

The ZCCB expressed concern for the treatment of members and officials of opposition political parties, calling for full transparency and accountability if any individuals are detained. They urged the ECZ to deliver election results in a transparent and timely manner, emphasizing that any delay erodes public confidence. The bishops appealed for calm, patience, and prayer, urging all Zambians to defend the truth without violence, as the will of the people must be respected and protected.