Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Keith Mweemba has called on clubs to give players, coaches and officials adequate time to participate in Zambia’s 2026 General Elections.
Mweemba stressed that preparations for the new football season and the upcoming Transitional League should not prevent members of the football community from fulfilling their civic responsibilities.
The FAZ president said football clubs should organise their programmes around election-day activities so that players, technical staff and other officials can exercise their constitutional right to vote without unnecessary disruption.
Football duties should not come before voting
Mweemba emphasised that while football remains important, members of the football fraternity are citizens first and should be given the opportunity to take part in the democratic process.
“Football is important, but our players and officials are citizens first. Their football responsibilities should not become an obstacle to their civic responsibilities as they have a constitutional fundamental right and duty to participate in the country’s democratic process,” Mweemba said.
He encouraged clubs to adjust training schedules and other football-related activities to accommodate election-day commitments.
According to the FAZ chief, football activities can resume once members have completed their civic duties.
“Football can resume immediately after the ballot, but every citizen must have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process,” Mweemba emphasised.
Call for peaceful elections
Mweemba also urged members of the football community to conduct themselves peacefully and respectfully throughout the electoral process.
He called on players, coaches, administrators and other stakeholders to exercise their democratic rights responsibly before returning their attention to football and preparations for the upcoming season.
The FAZ president’s message comes as clubs continue preparing for the 2026 Transitional League, with the football calendar set to resume after the elections.
