ZAMBIA Union of Government and Allied Workers (UG) President Muyaywa Kabisa has urged authorities and stakeholders to ensure that public service workers who wish to contest in the 2026 general elections are not victimised or condemned, but instead supported as they exercise their constitutional rights.

Mr Kabisa said participation in governance was a legitimate aspiration that should not attract hostility or intimidation within the public service.

He however stressed that the legal framework governing public officers must be strictly observed, citing the Electoral Code of Conduct under Section 110 of the Electoral Process Act of 2016, which prohibits public servants from engaging in active partisan political activities while still in employment.

“Public officers must be counseled, encouraged, and given the necessary support as they contemplate serving the nation through political office,” he said.

Mr Kabisa noted that the growing interest among civil servants to join elective politics was a positive development for Zambia, as it could bring professionalism, technical expertise, and practical experience into Parliament.