Zambia Elections: Political violence must not divert our attention from cost of living crisis
6 August 2026
Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA) Zambia warns that political violence is stealing the nation’s focus from the real crisis: the rising cost of living. As the August 13th General Elections approach, FIA calls on parties, candidates, and citizens to have solutions to skyrocketing food and basic necessities at the centre of this election, not chaos.
“Violence is not democracy, it’s a distraction,” said Mputa Ngalande, FIA Zambia National Coordinator. “The true battleground in these elections is the price of melie‑melie, groceries, everyday basic essentials and quality public goods and services.
“With days left before voting, what Zambians are demanding is that candidates commit to real solutions that will ease the burden on ordinary people.”
FIA warns that violence only deepens divisions among the very people already bearing the brunt of economic hardships. The current economic and political climate demands collective attention to champion pro‑people policies not rhetoric that serves elites and corporations.
Adds Ngalande: “we call on all Zambians to reject political violence and demand that leaders shift their focus to issues based political debates that will ensure hospitals have medicines, schools have all needed resources and that every citizen has access to quality public services and goods such as electricity and water”.
As a movement of the 99% united in fighting the structural causes of inequality, FIA stands in solidarity with all Zambians as they exercise their democratic right to choose leaders who will serve the majority’s interests.
Media Contact:
Farai Kadyamoto I Fight Inequality Zambia I farai.kadyamoto@fightinequality.org I +260 971620684
Fight Inequality Alliance is a growing global movement organising and mobilising to counter the excessive concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a small elite. FIA unites a wide range of social movements, grassroots and community-based organisations, civil society organisations, trade unions, artists and individual activists from across the world who share a vision and purpose in fighting the structural causes of inequality together. It is currently calling for action on the cost of living in Zambia and around the world as a whole - https://fightinequality.org/your-cost-of-living-is-rising-fast-governments-must-act