ZCTU Calls for Peace After Polls

Mulala urges political leaders, new MPs and citizens to protect Zambia’s peace, respect workers’ rights and embrace accountability after the 2026 elections

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24  -- 21-08-2026 --- The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on Zambians to put the August 13 general elections behind them and protect the peace the country has enjoyed as political parties prepare for the next five years.

ZCTU president Blake Mulala said the elections were largely peaceful and orderly, despite isolated cases of violence, and urged political parties and their supporters not to allow political differences to tear communities apart.

Mr Mulala said elections were an important part of democracy, but the process could only work if political parties, candidates and citizens respected the Constitution, the rule of law and the will of the people.

He commended political parties for largely keeping their campaigns peaceful and urged them to accept the outcome of the elections and use lawful channels to challenge results where they had concerns.

“We cannot allow our political differences to destroy our relationships, our communities and our country,” Mr Mulala said.

He said Zambians should remember that after elections, people still had to live and work together as neighbours, colleagues and family members.

Mr Mulala also praised workers who kept the country running during the elections, including electoral officials, security personnel, media workers, utility workers and employees in both the public and private sectors.

He said many workers put in long hours, with some spending nights away from their families while carrying out election duties.

Mr Mulala said ZCTU was particularly saddened by the death of one of its comrades who died while serving as a polling staff member.

He sent condolences to the deceased's family, friends and colleagues and called for a full investigation into the death.

“No one is supposed to die during the electoral process,” he said.

Mr Mulala said those found responsible should face the law and justice should not be delayed.

Employers warned over workers’ voting rights

Mr Mulala also took aim at employers who allegedly prevented workers from leaving their workplaces to vote on election day.

He said ZCTU, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, had visited some workplaces and found workers who were still on duty despite election day being declared a public holiday.

He said workers should never be forced to choose between keeping their jobs and exercising their constitutional right to vote.

“No employer, no matter how big they are, should obstruct the lawful exercise of that right,” Mr Mulala said.

He warned that ZCTU would name and expose employers found abusing workers' rights.

Mr Mulala further warned employers who fail to pay overtime, saying workers who put in extra hours should receive the appropriate compensation.

He encouraged workers facing problems with their employers to approach their unions for help.

Mulala stands by Bill 7 support

Mr Mulala also defended ZCTU's decision to support Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7, saying the labour movement had reached its position after studying the proposal, consulting stakeholders and considering its long-term impact.

He said the additional constituencies created through the constitutional changes had opened the door for more people to participate in politics and increased representation.

According to Mr Mulala, some politicians who had strongly opposed the changes later benefited from the new constituencies after winning seats in the August 13 elections.

He said ZCTU had been looking beyond the immediate political arguments surrounding the Bill.

“We looked at tomorrow. We looked at the future,” he said.

Mr Mulala congratulated the union movement for standing by its position despite criticism from some quarters.

He said the increased constituencies would also allow more communities to benefit from Constituency Development Fund resources and improve access to their elected representatives.

MPs told not to forget voters

Mr Mulala urged newly elected MPs to remember the people who put them in Parliament.

He warned against the familiar habit of politicians becoming difficult to reach once they take office, saying elected leaders should remain accessible and answerable to their constituents.

He urged voters not to sit back after elections but to continue demanding answers from their representatives.

“Make your leaders accountable to you. That is how they can deliver development,” he said.

Concern over social media abuse

Mr Mulala expressed concern over the insults, threats, fake information and political attacks circulating on social media following the elections.

He said social media had become increasingly toxic and called for stronger efforts to stop people from using online platforms to spread hatred and divide the country.

He urged citizens to report harmful content instead of sharing it and called on parents to take responsibility for how their children use social media.

Mr Mulala said the police should consider having a specialised unit to deal with serious online abuse and threats.

But he also stressed that efforts to deal with harmful online content should not become an excuse to take away people's legitimate rights and freedoms.

“Social media must be used to build peace. Social media must be used to unite the nation,” he said.

ZCTU sets expectations for new Government

Looking ahead, Mr Mulala said ZCTU would continue engaging the new Government on employment, social protection, economic development and workers' welfare.

He said the union expected greater respect for workers' rights, especially in the private sector.

ZCTU wants employers to allow workers to join unions freely and stop interfering with union activities.

Mr Mulala also called for more decent jobs, stronger social dialogue and greater cooperation between Government, employers and workers.

He said Zambia needed to increase production and create more jobs in both the public and private sectors.

The union president further called for more mining contracts to go to Zambian companies, saying local businesses should be given a bigger opportunity to participate in the country's economy.

“We are not going to rely on foreigners to develop our country. It must be developed by Zambians,” he said.

He said giving more contracts to Zambian companies would keep money circulating within the country and create more jobs for local people.

Call for competent ministers

Mr Mulala also urged President Hakainde Hichilema to appoint competent men and women to Cabinet who would put the interests of the country ahead of personal interests.

He said Government should consult workers and other social partners when considering people for key positions, particularly ministries that directly affect workers.

Mr Mulala said ZCTU wanted to see continued social dialogue between Government, employers and workers, arguing that the approach had helped Zambia achieve labour reforms in recent years.

He also called for better working conditions, saying workers could not be expected to give their best when they were denied overtime, transport allowances, lunch allowances or timely promotions.

“Candidates may lose, but Zambia must win”

Mr Mulala's central message was that Zambia must now move on.

He urged citizens who supported different political parties to put their differences aside and accept that the country now has elected leaders who must serve everyone.

“If you did not vote for them and then they are the ones running Zambia, are you going to migrate away from Zambia? You can't,” he said.

He said no political party or individual was bigger than Zambia and warned that hatred could destroy the peace that generations of Zambians had worked to preserve.

Mr Mulala also appealed to the church, traditional leaders, the media, political parties, employers and workers to play their part in keeping the country calm.

He said Zambia's reputation as a peaceful country should not be put at risk because of political differences.

“Candidates may lose, but Zambia must win,” Mr Mulala said.

He urged Zambians to turn the page on the elections and concentrate on rebuilding communities, growing the economy and holding elected leaders accountable.

“Let us remain united. We are one Zambia, one nation, one people,” he said.