SECAM-AU Capacity-Building Training for peaceful elections in Zambia

As Zambia approaches its general elections in August 2026, a high-level capacity-building training was held in Lusaka, Zambia, from April 20-21, 2026, to promote a transparent and democratic election process.

The workshop, focused on peacebuilding, election monitoring and democratic transitions, marks an important step in the partnership between the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the African Union (AU).

The training gathered thirty-five (35) participants including the Electoral authorities and Church leaders such us Diocesan coordinators of Justice and Peace commissions, clergy, religious, youth and women leaders. This event is one of the outcomes of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February 2026, aiming to promote good governance, peace and credible elections across the continent.

Promote credible elections

The training featured a range of sessions on election observation methodologies, emphasizing their importance in ensuring transparency and public confidence. Mr. Samuel Atuobi, Senior Elections Officer at the AU’s Department of Political Affairs, underscored the need for elections to be not just administrative exercises but reflections of the people’s will, anchored in principles of fairness, freedom, and transparency. The workshop also covered various phases of the electoral cycle, from pre-election assessments to post-election dispute resolutions, highlighting key indicators of credible elections.

Additionally, the training emphasized ethical responsibility, with input from the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) and Caritas Zambia. Participants discussed the Church’s role in peacebuilding and election observation, drawing on regional experiences from Zimbabwe and the broader framework of international and continental standards like the African Charter on Democracy and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

SECAM Communicartions Office