ECZ Trains Church Voter Educators

Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana has called on the Church to remain a steady voice of peace, unity and reconciliation as Zambia heads into the electoral period, urging faith leaders to use their influence to steer communities away from division.

Speaking at a certificate presentation ceremony for 42 trainers drawn from the Apostle Council of Churches, Mr Kawana stressed that political competition should never become a source of disunity among Zambians. He said robust debate is healthy for democracy, but it must be conducted within the bounds of mutual respect.

He further urged politicians themselves to lead by example, calling on them to tolerate opposing views and to engage their rivals with civility rather than hostility. Differences of opinion, he noted, are a natural feature of any vibrant democracy and should not be treated as grounds for personal attack or community tension.

The trainers, who completed a voter education programme delivered by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), will now take the lessons learnt back into their respective congregations and communities. Mr Kawana encouraged them to make full use of their new skills by holding grassroots engagements aimed at informing citizens about the electoral process.

He also urged the trainers to actively discourage violence, hate speech and the spread of misinformation, warning that such conduct undermines both the credibility of elections and the broader social fabric of the country.