Nalumango Calls for Peace and Unity as Zambia Enters Final Days Before General Election

 

Clergy in Mkushi promise special prayers, while traditional leaders praise prompt FRA maize payments and urge the government to sustain the system

By Staff Reporter

MKUSHI, Zambia — Vice President Mutale Nalumango has called on Zambia’s clergy to intensify prayers for peace, national unity and love as the country approaches the 13 August 2026 general election.

Speaking during a meeting with church leaders in Mkushi District, Central Province, Mrs Nalumango said the values of unity, peace and love would be essential not only for conducting credible and peaceful elections, but also for Zambia’s long-term social and economic development.

The Vice President urged religious leaders to pray for the country’s political leadership, electoral institutions, candidates and citizens during the final days of the campaign period.

She said Zambia needed God’s intervention to overcome division and achieve its development aspirations, warning that political disagreements should not be allowed to weaken national cohesion.

Mrs Nalumango called on Zambians to reject what she described as a spirit of division, confusion and disunity. She appealed to citizens to maintain Zambia’s reputation as a peaceful country by respecting one another before, during and after the election.

Her appeal comes as political campaigns enter their final phase ahead of polling day. The Electoral Commission of Zambia has confirmed that voting will take place on Thursday, 13 August 2026, from 06:00 to 18:00 hours. The official electoral timetable provides for the campaign period to end on 12 August, with the receipt and verification of results scheduled to begin after polling. Electoral Commission of Zambia

The election will involve voting for the Republican President and Vice-President, Members of Parliament, mayors or council chairpersons and councillors. Zambia’s final register contains approximately 8.79 million registered voters, according to Electoral Commission records.

Church promises special election prayers

Mkushi Ministers Fellowship Chairperson Reverend Adams Chilowana assured the Vice President that churches in the district remained committed to promoting peace and unity.

Reverend Chilowana said church mother bodies in Mkushi would hold special prayers during the week leading to the election. The prayers are expected to focus on peaceful voting, responsible political conduct, national reconciliation and the safety of voters and electoral officials.

The church’s commitment could be particularly important in an election environment where religious leaders often command influence across political, ethnic and social divisions.

However, the clergy will also face the responsibility of maintaining political neutrality. While churches have a legitimate role in calling for peace and justice, their credibility may depend on whether they apply the same moral standards to all political parties and candidates.

The meeting therefore raises a wider question: beyond holding prayer services, what practical measures will churches undertake to discourage hate speech, misinformation, political violence and the intimidation of voters?

Neither the government nor the clergy representatives announced a formal election peace-monitoring programme during the meeting. It was also not disclosed whether the special prayers would involve representatives of competing political parties, civil-society organisations or Electoral Commission officials.

Traditional leaders praise FRA maize payments

In a separate engagement, traditional leaders in Mkushi commended the government for what they described as the prompt payment of farmers supplying maize to the Food Reserve Agency.

Senior Chief Shaibila, speaking on behalf of seven traditional leaders who met the Vice President, said farmers were receiving their payments on time. He appealed to the government and the FRA to maintain the payment system.

Timely payment is critical for rural households because farmers often need proceeds from maize sales to repay production loans, purchase household necessities, prepare for the next farming season and pay school-related expenses.

Delayed payments can force small-scale farmers to borrow money, sell other assets or accept lower prices from private buyers. Prompt settlement by the FRA can therefore have a direct effect on household income and confidence in the government-supported agricultural marketing system.

The chiefs’ statement provides a positive account of FRA operations in Mkushi. However, no supporting figures were presented during the meeting showing how many farmers had supplied maize, the quantities purchased, the total value paid or the average time between delivery and payment.

It was also not established whether all farmers in the district had been paid or whether the chiefs’ assessment was based on reports from selected depots and communities.

For transparency, the FRA could publish district-level information showing:

• The quantity of maize purchased in Mkushi;

• The number of farmers who have delivered crops;

• The amount of money paid;

• The amount still outstanding;

• The average payment-processing period; and

• Any unresolved complaints involving delayed or rejected payments.

Such information would allow farmers, traditional leaders and the wider public to independently assess whether prompt payments are being maintained consistently across all satellite depots.

Peace message carries political significance

Mrs Nalumango’s appeal comes during a politically sensitive period in which statements from senior government officials are likely to receive close public scrutiny.

As Vice President and a candidate associated with the governing party, her message of peace carries both national and political significance. Opposition parties and election observers will expect the government to match calls for unity with equal enforcement of electoral rules, protection of opposition campaign rights and restraint by public institutions.

Peaceful elections require more than the absence of physical violence. They also depend on access to accurate information, impartial administration, freedom of assembly, transparent counting and public confidence in the management of results.

The responsibility therefore extends beyond churches and citizens. Political parties must restrain their supporters, law-enforcement agencies must operate impartially, the media must avoid inflammatory reporting, and electoral authorities must communicate clearly and promptly.

The Electoral Commission’s published roadmap sets out the formal election timetable, including accreditation, polling, verification and declaration of results. Public confidence will depend on how consistently those procedures are implemented throughout the country. ECZ 2026 General Election Roadmap

A test of unity beyond polling day

The Mkushi meetings brought together three issues that will remain important beyond the election: national unity, the moral influence of churches and the economic welfare of farmers.

Special prayers may help reinforce peaceful conduct, but political leaders and institutions will ultimately be judged by their actions. Similarly, praise for prompt FRA payments will need to be supported by sustained performance and transparent payment records.

As Zambia enters the final days before voting, the central test will be whether appeals for peace are reflected in political conduct—and whether commitments made to farmers and rural communities continue after ballots have been counted.

The Vice President’s message was originally reported following her meeting with clergy and traditional leaders in Mkushi. Original Mkushi report