Bishops Council of Zambia president Martin Silwimba has called on the church, traditional leaders and government to promote unity and peace as the country prepares for the August 2026 general elections.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, Bishop Silwimba says elections are a key pillar of democracy that allow citizens to freely choose their leaders, hence the need for peace and unity to be prioritised during campaigns.

He appealed to citizens to guard against division, misinformation and unnecessary suspicion that could weaken national unity.

Meanwhile, Bishops Council of Zambia Spokesperson Charles Phiri said political parties should focus on outlining development programmes to the electorate rather than engaging in leadership wrangles.

“Citizens are not going to vote for a President title, but what that leader is going to do is going to change or add up in the government system,” he said.