CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA INFILTRATED BY POLITICIANS AHEAD OF 2026 ELECTIONS
By Chilufya Kasonde
A storm is brewing within Zambia’s religious circles as evidence emerges that political parties are quietly infiltrating the Church to advance their 2026 campaign agendas. Both Pentecostal and Catholic Churches have become the latest battlegrounds for political influence, with some members of the clergy allegedly receiving money and material benefits to promote specific candidates from the pulpit.
Investigations conducted by this news firm have revealed that certain politicians have strategically aligned themselves with influential Church leaders — including pastors, reverends, priests, and bishops — in an effort to sway public opinion through religious gatherings. Some Church events and crusades have reportedly become disguised campaign platforms, where politicians are introduced as “honoured guests” only to deliver subtle political messages cloaked in spirituality.
Sources within the religious community point to several prominent Pentecostal Churches in Lusaka, Ndola, and Kitwe that have been hosting political figures under the pretext of “thanksgiving services” and “development partnerships.” Similarly, some Catholic priests have been accused of allowing political messages to dominate homilies, contrary to the Church’s traditional stance of political neutrality.
A senior member of one major Church denomination who spoke on condition of anonymity described the situation as “spiritual corruption.
“It’s heartbreaking to see pastors and priests selling their pulpits for envelopes of cash,” he said. “Some of these men of God are being used to mobilize votes under the disguise of prayer and fellowship. It’s no longer about the Gospel — it’s about power and money.”
Analysts warn that this growing relationship between politicians and the clergy is dangerous and could tear apart the moral fabric of Zambia’s Church community. If left unchecked, it could lead to divisions within congregations and loss of public trust in religious institutions.
“The Church is supposed to be a refuge for all, not a campaign ground,” said a governance expert. “Once politicians succeed in dividing the Church along party lines, Zambia will lose one of its strongest moral anchors.”
Some politicians have been accused of exploiting clergy members’ financial vulnerabilities to buy loyalty. Reports suggest that certain bishops and pastors have received cash donations, vehicles, and even building materials for Church projects — all in exchange for their endorsement or silent support.
Calls are growing louder for the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), and the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) to take a firm stance against the politicization of the pulpit. Many believe that silence or inaction could be interpreted as complicity.
As Zambia edges closer to the 2026 General Election, the line between faith and politics is becoming increasingly blurred. The question now is whether the Church — once regarded as the conscience of the nation — will resist the lure of political influence or succumb to it for short-term gain.