Catholic and Protestant Churches Close Ranks on Rule of Law, Demand Dialogue and End to Arbitrary Arrests

Zambia’s two largest church bodies have issued separate but closely aligned statements warning that the rule of law, public confidence in institutions and national unity are under strain in the aftermath of the 2026 general election. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) raised concern over the credibility and transparency of the elections, arrests of opposition figures and the presence of military personnel in civilian spaces. It also pointed to reports of excessive or unlawful force, including the loss of civilian lives. The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) called for an independent investigation into the death of former Cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, who was killed in August during a State security operation. Both bodies called for sustained national dialogue and an end to detention without due process.

The Catholic bishops’ pastoral statement followed an extraordinary plenary meeting of eight bishops on September 29. The bishops said they had listened to the concerns, fears and hopes of citizens before reflecting on the situation in the light of the Gospel and the social teaching of the Church. They said their intervention was not intended to deepen political divisions or take sides in partisan struggles. Instead, they said, it was meant to protect human dignity, justice, truth, peace and national unity. The bishops said the moment called for action, not silence.

“The present moment requires not silence or resignation, but responsible action directed towards peace, justice, reconciliation and the common good,” the bishops said.

The bishops warned that increasing political polarisation was weakening dialogue and making it difficult for citizens to put the common good above partisan interests. They expressed concern over the manipulation of ethnic identities and tribal sentiment for political purposes, warning that it threatened the spirit of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’. Many citizens, they said, were living in fear over their personal security, freedom of expression and employment, and over the consequences of voicing political opinions. They also pointed to a narrowing of space for independent media, civil society and dissenting voices.

The ZCCB questioned the credibility and transparency of electoral processes, particularly concerns over the conduct and management of the 2026 General Elections. The bishops said public confidence in elections was essential to the legitimacy and stability of democratic institutions. They raised concern over restrictions affecting access to justice and perceptions that the independence of governance institutions was being weakened. They also flagged debates around the constitutional provisions on presidential terms of office, where such debates raise anxiety about constitutional safeguards and democratic continuity. On opposition politics, the bishops cited reports of harassment, restrictions and arrests, and they defended the right of rival voices to take part.

“Democracy requires space for alternative political voices and peaceful political participation,” the bishops said.

The bishops’ gravest concern was the use of force. They cited reports of arbitrary arrests and detention, the presence of military personnel in civilian spaces and reports of excessive or unlawful use of force, including the loss of civilian lives. The statement did not name any individual case. The bishops said such developments risked eroding trust between citizens and institutions, and they spoke plainly on the value of life.

“Every human life is sacred and must be protected,” the bishops said.

The CCZ was more direct on the one death that has come to define the post-election period. In a communique issued after a Heads of Churches meeting at the University of Zambia Chapel, CCZ president Reverend Ackson Banda called for a thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into Mr Kafwaya’s death. He said the facts must be established and accountability must follow wherever wrongdoing is found. Mr Kafwaya was killed in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area during what police described as an intelligence-led operation by a joint task force. Police said officers came under gunfire and returned fire. That account has been contested by the opposition, and a complaint over the death has since been lodged with the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

The CCZ also raised concern over people being arrested and held without being promptly brought before a competent court. It stressed that every citizen’s constitutional rights must be respected regardless of political affiliation, religious standing or social status. The council called for urgent investigations into allegations of organised groups or militias operating outside established security structures, without saying which groups it meant. Rev. Banda said the moment called for wisdom rather than political triumphalism, restraint rather than provocation, and justice rather than the selective application of the law.

Beyond their concerns, both bodies set out remedies, and these largely overlap. The ZCCB proposed a sustained process of national dialogue, reconciliation and healing across political, ethnic, religious and social lines. It also called for stronger democratic institutions and a review of electoral processes so that citizens can trust their votes are protected. The CCZ urged the Government, opposition parties and civil society to commit to national dialogue, saying reconciliation must be shown through justice, forgiveness and rebuilding trust rather than declarations and ceremonies. The bishops also called for civic and constitutional education for young people, protection for journalists and civil society, and legal and humanitarian support for families affected by violence or arbitrary detention.

“Public institutions must be instruments of justice and service rather than sources of fear,” the bishops said.

The two statements part ways on the economy. The CCZ acknowledged progress in debt restructuring, key economic indicators and free education, while noting that many Zambians still struggle with the high cost of living, unemployment, food insecurity and energy challenges. The ZCCB kept its focus on governance, rights and the conduct of the elections. The CCZ urged leaders to keep constitutional reforms inclusive and people-driven, and said the Church would maintain its independence from partisan political interests.

The statements come in the same week that the Catholic Archbishop of Lusaka, Dr Alick Banda, was released on bail after a night in custody on a charge of possessing a vehicle allegedly obtained unlawfully from the Zambia Revenue Authority. ZCCB president Archbishop Ignatius Chama had earlier accused the ruling party of seeking to silence the Church. The ruling UPND has rejected that charge, describing the Catholic Church as an important voice in matters of governance. The bishops’ pastoral statement did not refer directly to the Archbishop’s case.

The Catholic statement was issued at Kapingila House on the memorial of St Jerome. It was signed by Archbishop Chama, vice-president Bishop Charles Kasonde, Bishop George Lungu, Bishop Clement Mulenga, Bishop Patrick Chisanga, Bishop Edwin Mulandu, Bishop Raphael Mweempwa and Auxiliary Bishop Gabriel Msipu Phiri. The bishops declared October a special month of Holy Rosary prayers for peace in Zambia. They closed with an appeal to the nation.

“We call upon all people of good will to work together so that Zambia may remain a home for all her children, a nation in which human dignity is respected, justice is accessible, differences can be expressed peacefully, and power is exercised as service,” the bishops said.

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