ZAMBIA CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPSPASTORAL STATEMENTON THE CONDUCT AND CLIMATE OF THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTION

●The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has followed withgrave concern the conduct of the General Election of 13th August 2026 and the events that have unfolded in its aftermath. We, shepherds of the Catholic Church in Zambia and moral voices in the life of this nation,cannot remain silent while the integrity of a process […]

●The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has followed with
grave concern the conduct of the General Election of 13th August 2026 and the events that have unfolded in its aftermath.

We, shepherds of the Catholic Church in Zambia and moral voices in the life of this nation,cannot remain silent while the integrity of a process so central to the well-being and future of the Zambian people risk being placed in doubt.

We speak today not in the interest of any political party or candidate, but in defence of the Constitution, the rule of law and the sacred right of every Zambian to have their vote counted and
respected.

The Suspension of Vote Tallying

●We note with deep concern the decision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on 14th August 2026 to suspend the tallying and announcement of election results, cited by the Commission as a response to reports of violence against polling officials and the theft of both Custody of Ballot Papers

●We raise particular concern regarding reports that ballot papers, including those alleged to have been affected by theft or tampering, have at various points been left in the custody of police officers and army personnel.

Ballot papers are not the property of the security services; they are the property of the Zambian people.

Their safekeeping must at all times remain in the hands of the Electoral Commission and its lawfully appointed, independent,and impartial officials, under conditions that are open to scrutiny by chief election agents, accredited observers, and the media.

●We call upon the Electoral Commission of Zambia to account fully and publicly for the chain of custody of every affected ballot box and ballot paper, and to ensure that no security officer, however senior, exercises unsupervised control over materials that belong to the electoral process alone

●Deployment of the Army
We are concerned by the deployment of army officers to police functions in connection with this election.

The maintenance of order during
elections is constitutionally and statutorily the responsibility of the Zambia Police Service, working with the Commission.

The visible presence of military personnel and vehicles at polling and tallying centres, however it may be explained, risks intimidating voters, poll agents and officials, and sends a troubling signal about the character of our democracy.

We urge that any continued military presence be strictly limited, transparent in its mandate, and swiftly withdrawn once genuinely no longer required.