AUGUST ELECTIONS WILL DECIDE ZAMBIA’S FUTURE – ARCHBISHOP CHAMA The Catholic Bishops of Zambia have warned that the freedoms and liberties being taken away from citizens are creating a foundation that could lead to vi0lence and the loss of what the country has built. Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) President Archbishop Ignatius Chama of […]

AUGUST ELECTIONS WILL DECIDE ZAMBIA’S FUTURE – ARCHBISHOP CHAMA

The Catholic Bishops of Zambia have warned that the freedoms and liberties being taken away from citizens are creating a foundation that could lead to vi0lence and the loss of what the country has built.

Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) President Archbishop Ignatius Chama of Kasama delivered the warning during his homily at the opening Mass of the ZCCB July 2026 Plenary in Lusaka today.

The plenary comes just weeks before Zambians go to the polls on 13 August to elect political leaders who will govern for the next 5 years.

“The plenary comes just before a crucial task for all Zambians to elect political leaders who will govern us for the next 5 years, who will take the nation to either prosperity or to doom,” Archbishop Chama said.

The Archbishop expressed concern over the current political climate in the country.

“Looking at what is so far going on, there is a sense of fear in most of us that we are slowly inviting trouble for ourselves. The freedoms and liberties that have been taken away from the citizens are creating a foundation that will grow into violence and loss of what we have built as a country,” he said.

Drawing from the day’s first reading from Isaiah 7:1-9, Archbishop Chama compared Zambia’s situation to that of the Kingdom of Judah which faced external threats. He said the message then was not to seek political alliances but to trust in God.

“If you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all,” he quoted the Lord as telling the King of Judah through Prophet Isaiah.

Archbishop Chama said the role of the Church at this time was to lead people to trust in God.

“If we as leaders of the Church to which everyone looks for guidance fail to see that our responsibility is to bring the people to this trust in God… we will fail the test of being who we are, prophets among our people,” he said.

He urged the bishops and the nation not to be partisan ahead of elections.

“Now is not the time to join political bandwagons, but time to challenge the nation to convert and do what is right and just as a people who believe that a just God will uphold our nation if we all stand by him,” Archbishop Chama said.

He concluded by praying that the Lord would uphold the country “as we journey towards electing leaders worthy of ruling us” and that the plenary would bear fruits for the well-being of the Church.

The ZCCB July 2026 Plenary brings together all Catholic Bishops in Zambia to deliberate on matters affecting the Church and the nation.

© Catholic Diocese of Mpika – Yusuf Radio