Catholic Bishops Raise Alarm Over Election Tallying, Ballot Custody and Army Deployment
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News44 Views LUSAKA — The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the 2026 general election and developments surrounding the counting and tallying of votes, warning that delays and the involvement of security agencies could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. In a pastoral statement on the […]
44 ViewsLUSAKA — The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the 2026 general election and developments surrounding the counting and tallying of votes, warning that delays and the involvement of security agencies could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
In a pastoral statement on the conduct and climate of the election, the Catholic Bishops said they were speaking not in support of any political party or candidate, but in defence of the Constitution, the rule of law and what they described as the “sacred right” of every Zambian to have their vote counted and respected.
The Bishops expressed particular concern over the decision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on August 14, 2026, to suspend the tallying and announcement of election results following reports of violence against polling officials and the theft of both marked and unmarked ballot papers.
Although the ECZ subsequently indicated that counting had resumed under heightened security, the Bishops said the suspension, coming just one day after Zambians voted, should concern every citizen.
“An election is only as credible as the transparency of its counting and tallying process,” the Bishops said, warning that delays can create room for “doubt, speculation and mistrust.”
The ZCCB condemned what it described as any conduct by political parties, security agencies or individuals that had contributed to the unfavourable electoral environment.
Concern over custody of ballot papers
The Bishops also raised particular concern over reports that some ballot papers, including those allegedly affected by theft or tampering, had at various points been left in the custody of police and army personnel.
They stressed that ballot papers are not the property of security services but belong to the Zambian people.
According to the statement, the safekeeping of electoral materials should remain with the ECZ and its lawfully appointed officials, under conditions that allow scrutiny by political parties, accredited observers and the media.
The Bishops have therefore called on the ECZ to fully and publicly account for the chain of custody of every affected ballot box and ballot paper.
They further demanded that no security officer, regardless of rank, should exercise unsupervised control over electoral materials.
Bishops question army deployment
The Church also expressed concern over the deployment of army officers to perform policing functions in connection with the election.
The ZCCB noted that the maintenance of order during elections is constitutionally and statutorily the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service working with the Electoral Commission.
While acknowledging that the deployment of military personnel may have been made for security reasons, the Bishops warned that the visible presence of soldiers and military vehicles at polling and tallying centres could intimidate voters, polling agents and election officials.
The Church called for any continued military presence to be strictly limited, transparent in its mandate and withdrawn as soon as it is genuinely no longer required.
Appeal for transparency and peace
The Bishops said the events following the August 13 election required transparency and restraint from all actors.
They maintained that the credibility of the election would ultimately depend not only on the voting itself but also on the manner in which ballots are secured, counted, tallied and announced.
The statement comes as the country awaits the completion of the presidential tallying process amid heightened political tensions following the election.
The ZCCB urged all stakeholders to place the national interest above political considerations and ensure that the electoral process remains anchored in constitutionalism, transparency and respect for the will of the Zambian people.
The Bishops concluded their appeal under the theme:
“Peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.”
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