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The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) have called on political parties to stop using children in political campaigns, warning that children must not be turned into tools of confrontation.
In a joint pastoral statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday and signed by Reverend Canon James Phiri of CCZ, Reverend Allan Kasungami of EFZ and Father Francis Mukosa of ZCCB, the church leaders said the nation should protect children from political hostility and preserve national unity during the election period.
The three mother bodies said they had already committed with political leaders and other stakeholders to promote peace through the Peace Pledge.
They urged that the pledge be translated into daily conduct in homes, communities, churches, political spaces and on digital platforms.
The church leaders said elections should never divide Zambians and must not undermine the shared responsibility to build a peaceful and prosperous country. They identified the misuse of social media as an additional threat to cohesion.
“Of even greater concern is the deliberate involvement and use of children in political communication, including the production and circulation of videos and messages in which children are encouraged or permitted to insult, ridicule or demean political leaders, public officials and other adults,” reads the statement.
The bishops said they were also concerned about propaganda, misinformation, disinformation, insults, ridicule and inflammatory messages being circulated online. They warned that such content was intended to provoke anger and hostility among citizens.
“Children should not be made instruments of political hostility. Our children are the future of Zambia. We must not socialise them into hatred, insults and intolerance,” the church leaders stated.
The three church mother bodies grounded their appeal in scripture, reminding citizens that the command to love one’s neighbour applies everywhere, including on Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, X and YouTube, urging people to reflect before posting or sharing content.
“The fact that we are communicating through a screen does not remove the humanity or dignity of the person on the other side. Before we post, comment, share or forward a message, let us ask: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it respectful?” reads the statement.
The mother bodies affirmed freedom of expression but cautioned that it should not become a licence for hatred, humiliation or deliberate misinformation, emphasizing that democracy requires disagreement, but peace requires discipline in how people disagree.
Addressing political parties and leaders directly, the churches urged them to reject inflammatory and provocative language, discourage supporters from insulting opponents, and correct misinformation circulated in their names.
“Leaders must demonstrate the peaceful Zambia they seek to lead. Question with respect. Criticise with truth. Disagree without hatred. Participate without violence. This is the Zambia we want to leave to our children,” reads the statement.
The church leaders appealed to citizens, clergy, civil society, traditional leaders, the media and parents to take personal responsibility for the peace of the nation.
They called on clergy to read the statement in congregations every Sunday and to preach on peace, truth and reconciliation.
The statement concluded with a warning that social media must not become a battlefield. Zambia is bigger than our political differences. loving our neighbour does not stop when we pick up our phone. let us love our neighbour—even in cyberspace,” the three church bodies said.
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