LUSAKA, FEBRUARY 4, 2026 (CISA) – As Zambia prepares for the forthcoming General Elections scheduled for August 2026, the Catholic Bishops of Zambia have issued a strong pastoral letter dated January 30, 2026, urging citizens, political leaders and institutions to embrace peace, justice, unity and integrity as guiding principles for the electoral process.
The elections will see Zambians elect a President, Members of the National Assembly, Councilors and Council Chairpersons, in what the bishops describe as a defining moment for the nation’s democratic journey
In their letter, the bishops acknowledged the gravity of the moment, describing Zambia as standing “at a crucial crossroad.”
They wrote, “Will we move forward in building a society rooted in peace, justice, and unity, or allow ourselves to drift into division, indifference, and manipulation?”
Addressing both Catholics and people of goodwill, the bishops expressed hope tempered with concern, noting that elections are not merely political events but moments that test the nation’s moral conscience.
Reflecting on Zambia’s democratic history, the bishops recalled their consistent engagement during previous elections, citing pastoral statements issued in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. Each intervention, they note, sought to uphold peace, justice and democratic values.
However, the bishops lamented that persistent challenges such as “tribalism, corruption, high cost of living, indebtedness, unemployment, electoral violence, and socio-economic inequality” continue to burden the nation. Despite this, they insisted, “we are not without hope,” stressing that Christian hope demands action rather than passive optimism.
A major theme of the pastoral letter is the understanding of politics as a noble vocation. The bishops cautioned against reducing politics to power struggles or personal gain, stating that “politics, in its truest sense, is a noble and difficult calling, a vocation of service to the human family.”
They defined the common good as “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.” In this light, they reminded leaders that the human person must remain the foundation and goal of all political institutions.
The bishops also emphasized that responsible political participation is not limited to leaders alone but extends to every citizen, asserting that “responsible citizenship is a moral virtue and a necessary obligation,” and urging Zambians to be informed, active and conscientious in civic life.
While affirming the separation of Church and State, they insist that faith cannot be divorced from public action, noting that conscience formation is central to ethical political engagement. They clarify their role as shepherds by stating, “our role is to form your conscience, not to replace it.”
On the electoral process itself, the bishops described elections as a sacred civic and moral responsibility. Recalling their 2006 pastoral message, they reiterated that “voting is a moral act, a duty to the common good.”
The pastoral letter places strong emphasis on the need for a transparent and credible electoral process, calling this the foundation of electoral justice. The bishops urge the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to act “with independence, professionalism, impartiality and perform its duties without fear or favour.”
The prelates stressed that provisions in the Electoral Code of Conduct, including prohibitions against intimidation, violence and unfair media access, are “not optional guidelines but binding expectations.”
Addressing the conduct of campaigns, the bishops condemned the continued use of insults, tribalism and character assassination in political discourse. They recalled their 2021 warning that “we cannot build a united Zambia if we tear each other apart during campaigns.”
The bishops further reaffirmed the non-partisan role of the Church and clergy, stressing that the Church must never become a tool for political interests. They stated that the church premises must not be used for campaigns, political donations must not be exchanged for influence, and the pulpit must remain a place of moral truth rather than political opportunism.
