Move on, Reconcile and Put Zambia First

He said political parties come and go, but Zambia remains, and this should guide both winners and losers after every election.

“Let’s not be bad losers. Let’s accept election results and accept the will of the people,” Chifire said.

He said losing an election should not be seen as the end of a political career, citing late President Michael Sata, who lost elections before remaining in politics and eventually winning the presidency.

Chifire also warned against political and tribal divisions, saying no region, tribe or political group should think it has a permanent claim to Zambia’s presidency.

He called for an honest national conversation on the causes of political divisions and how the country can heal from tensions that have continued before, during and after elections.

Chifire also challenged the Church to reflect on the role some clergy played during the elections, particularly those who openly took partisan positions.

He said pastors have a strong influence over their congregations and can deepen divisions when they openly support political parties or candidates.

“The church has been in the forefront of bringing division in the political arena,” Chifire said, urging clergy to return to their role of promoting peace, unity, reconciliation and moral leadership.

He also raised concern over inflammatory messages on social media, particularly calls for people to take to the streets, warning that political leaders should not send their followers into danger while remaining safely away from it.

Chifire said reconciliation should not mean sweeping wrongdoing under the carpet, but should involve confronting wrongs, dealing with their causes and finding a way forward.

He said Zambia’s democracy should be judged not only by what happens before and during elections, but also by how political players and citizens behave after results are announced.

Chifire maintained that political victories and defeats are temporary, while Zambia belongs to everyone, making peace and national unity more important than partisan interests.

Pastor Brian Mubiwa urges Zambians to put the country first

Pastor Brian Mubiwa says Zambia must move beyond political divisions and allow President Hakainde Hichilema to govern his second term, while the Church continues praying for the country.

Lusaka pastor Brian Mubiwa has called on Zambians to accept the outcome of the 2026 general election and put the interests of the country ahead of political emotions and personal interests.

Mubiwa said leadership should be understood as a calling and urged citizens to recognise the mandate given to President Hichilema instead of remaining stuck in the political battles of the campaign period.

He said Zambia needs unity, peace and reconciliation, adding that President Hichilema’s second-term mandate should be viewed in terms of what it means for the country as a whole.

Mubiwa said Hichilema also needs God’s guidance, strength and protection because of the weight of the presidency and the responsibilities that come with it.

“The President needs God’s guidance. He needs God to strengthen him and he needs the covering of God,” Mubiwa said.

He said the President is surrounded by people with different motives and interests, making it important for him to remain focused on the needs of Zambians and the purpose for which he was elected.

Mubiwa also challenged the Church to look at its own conduct during the election period, saying there was too much confusion and political noise among some members of the clergy.

He said the Church should not be judged by the actions of individual pastors, bishops or apostles who may have given political direction that was not in the best interests of the country.

“Not every pastor, not every bishop, not every apostle is the same. Many are called, but few are chosen to speak,” he said.

Mubiwa said religious leaders who use their platforms to influence voters should offer responsible guidance instead of simply telling people which candidate to vote for.

He said citizens should understand why they are supporting a particular candidate and should not be driven only by emotions or the popularity of a religious leader.

The pastor urged Zambians to stop giving attention to divisive statements made during the campaign, saying the elections were over and the country now needed to focus on rebuilding and moving forward.

He said the Church should respond to the post-election period through prayer and constructive guidance rather than more political confrontation.

Mubiwa said Zambia’s future depends on citizens putting the country first and allowing it to move forward in peace.

He urged the Church and Zambians at large to remain in prayer and seek God’s direction as the country enters President Hichilema’s second term.

Pastor Chishiba calls for acceptance and reconciliation

Lusaka Pastor Maybin Chishiba has called on candidates who lost the 2026 general elections to accept the outcome, reconcile with their opponents and put Zambia’s interests ahead of political ambitions.

Pastor Chishiba said the Church had played its part by praying for peace and interceding for Zambia before and during the August 13 elections, adding that the peaceful outcome should give Zambians confidence to move forward as one country.

He said the Church remains a place where people from different political parties worship together and that clergy should guide congregants through prayer rather than tell them which candidates to support.

“The role of the Church is to pray, to intercede and to see the will of God prevail,” Pastor Chishiba said.

He urged politicians who lost the election to accept the people’s decision, saying continued resistance would only hold the country back.

“I know it is not easy, but the people of Zambia have chosen. They have chosen, and we are just waiting to say this is what God did. We celebrate and give God the glory,” he said.

Pastor Chishiba said those finding it difficult to accept the election outcome should seek counselling and guidance so that political disappointment does not turn into actions that could threaten peace.

He said the Church was ready to pray for healing among political leaders and their supporters, particularly those disappointed by the results.

“We need to intercede for them because they are going through expectations, and when you lose, it takes prayer, encouragement and understanding,” he said.

Pastor Chishiba also challenged the clergy to examine their conduct during elections, warning that pastors who openly endorse candidates or make political prophecies that fail to materialise risk losing public confidence.

He said pastors should be properly trained and understand the responsibility that comes with giving spiritual direction to society.

“You are a messenger. If you give wrong direction, the whole nation can go astray,” Pastor Chishiba said.

He said clergy should avoid telling congregants who to vote for because doing so could affect their credibility if the preferred candidate loses.

“If I stand in the church and tell my members to vote for this one, what if that person loses? How are they going to look at my integrity?” he asked.

Pastor Chishiba said Zambia’s election experience should also be subjected to a post-election review to identify weaknesses in the electoral process and determine how future elections can be improved.

He said the review should not be used to reopen political divisions but to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that lessons are learnt.

Pastor Chishiba further called on the new government to make use of competent clergy who can provide honest counsel as Zambia moves into the next phase of national development.

His call comes after Zambia’s August 13 election, which was won by President Hakainde Hichilema, who secured a second term. The election also attracted renewed calls from church bodies for political actors to preserve peace and respect the democratic process.

He said the country has a bigger task ahead than political competition and urged Zambians to forgive one another, reconcile and work together for the development of the nation.

“Let us continue moving and loving one another. Forgive each other, and let us reconcile as a Church,” Pastor Chishiba said.