Swala Pilu Urges Zambians to Prioritise Mental Health After Elections

By Alain kabinda

 LUSAKA — Swala Pilu (Hold Your Heart) has urged Zambians to prioritise their mental and emotional wellbeing following the August 13, 2026 General Elections.

Swala Pilu Executive Director and Founder Ms. Mary Kufanga says the post-election period could have significant mental health implications for citizens, particularly candidates, their families, financiers and supporters who were deeply invested in the electoral outcome.

                                                               (Ms. Mary Kufanga)

Speaking during a media engagement in Lusaka,Ms. Kufanga said anxiety had increased during the period when the country was waiting for election results, particularly amid concerns over the pace at which results were being announced.

She said the uncertainty created serious emotional pressure for candidates and their supporters.

“The current moment is very critical to the emotional and mental well-being of every citizen of this country,” Ms. Kufanga said.

She called on families, workplaces and communities to pay attention to people who may be struggling to cope with the election outcome.

Ms. Kufanga said warning signs could include difficulty concentrating on simple tasks, physical tension, lack of motivation and withdrawal from normal daily activities.

She urged Zambians to check on colleagues, friends and family members rather than assuming that changes in behaviour were simply part of normal post-election reactions.

Ms. Kufanga said Swala Pilu deployed members to monitor the August 13 elections because electoral processes can have a significant impact on the mental wellbeing of citizens.

She said the organisation monitored voting, counting and the announcement of results across all ten constituencies of Lusaka Province.

The organisation initially intended to accredit more than 100 monitors and observers but managed to accredit fewer due to challenges encountered during the accreditation process.

Ms. Kufanga said some members spent between two and three days queuing at Nakatindi Hall before being accredited.

She recommended that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) either provide more days for accreditation in future elections or increase the number of personnel handling the process.

Despite the challenges, she said the organisation managed to reach its targeted polling stations through collaboration with other election monitoring organisations.

And Ms. Kufanga said Swala Pilu’s overall assessment was that the elections were conducted peacefully and that arrangements were generally satisfactory, despite isolated incidents of violence reported in areas such as Matero, Chawama and Kitwe.

She congratulated the ECZ, election participants and winners for their role in the electoral process.

Ms.  Kufanga has also appealed to political leaders and communicators to exercise responsibility when discussing election results.

She said political leaders should provide messages of hope and avoid statements that could intensify feelings of fear, anger or betrayal among supporters.

She also urged media practitioners and other communicators not to use election results to provoke or harm political opponents.

“We need to immediately become ambassadors of mental health,” Ms. Kufanga said.

She advised citizens to seek balanced sources of information and avoid excessive exposure to election-related coverage if it was increasing anxiety.

Ms. Kufanga further encouraged those disappointed by the results to acknowledge their emotions while accepting the outcome as part of the democratic process.

She said democracy should not be treated simply as a contest where winners gain everything and losers lose everything, but as a process that allows citizens to remain engaged beyond election day.

Ms. Kufanga reminded Zambians that life continues after the announcement of election results.

“Your preferred election candidate may have won or lost but you will need your mental health to process what happens next,” she said.

She called on families and communities to support people experiencing mental health challenges and avoid isolating those who may need help.

Ms. Kufanga further said that Swala Pilu remains committed to providing support to individuals requiring post-election mental health assistance.

“And perhaps most importantly, remember that there is life after the final election results. The election matters. But it is not the entirety of your life,” Ms. Kufanga said.

She concluded by wishing Zambians peace and congratulating President Hakainde Hichilema on his re-election.