ZAMBIA MUST CONFRONT ELECTORAL CONCERNS TO MOVE FORWARD-BISHOP CHIKOYA
By Victoria Kayeye Yambani
Former Council of Churches in Zambia General Secretary Bishop Emmanuel Chikoya has called for honest dialogue, justice and reconciliation as Zambia emerges from the 2026 General Elections.
Speaking on Diamond TVs Costa,Bishop Chikoya says while the elections were generally peaceful, the concerns raised by local and international observers over the electoral process must not be ignored, arguing that legitimate questions deserve transparent and credible answers.
He says those who feel aggrieved by the outcome must be given an opportunity to be heard through legitimate channels, stressing that moving forward should not mean glossing over unresolved issues, but confronting them honestly so that the country can achieve genuine closure.
Bishop Chikoya has also criticised the closure of the courts on the final day of the presidential petition window, saying the development created perceptions that some stakeholders were denied access to justice.
He is further calling on President-elect Hakainde Hichilema to set the tone for national healing by embracing all Zambians, including those who opposed him, while urging political leaders to engage in dialogue in a neutral environment.
Bishop Chikoya says Zambia must move away from vengeance and intolerance and embrace restorative approaches, warning that excessive arrests and unresolved grievances could deepen bitterness rather than promote reconciliation.
He says the church remains ready to facilitate dialogue, but insists that peace must be built on truth, justice and the willingness to listen to one another not simply on calls to forget what happened and move on.