The Editor Zambia
The repeated chanting of “Pelampi” at Zambian football matches in the Copperbelt is becoming difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence.
From the Zambia versus Togo Africa Cup of Nations qualifier to the Nkana Football Club fixture against Makeni All Stars, and now the Power Dynamos versus Nchanga Rangers encounter, the slogan has appeared at three separate football events. 
The pattern raises a serious question: Are Zambia’s football stadia becoming the latest battleground for political mobilisation?
There is growing suspicion that the chants could be part of a calculated political strategy involving remnants of the Patriotic Front (PF), potentially supported by financial interests. These are serious assess, however, and credible evidence is needed to establish who is organising or funding the activity. The public deserves answers, not speculation.
What is beyond dispute is that the recurrence of politically charged chanting at football matches warrants scrutiny. Stadia attracts passionate supporters, large crowds, and heightened emotions. They are, therefore, particularly vulnerable to tensions escalating when political rivalry is deliberately introduced into the atmosphere.
The danger is not the slogan alone; it is what could follow if political provocation is allowed to escalate unchecked.
UPND supporters are not immune to frustration. If sections of the party’s youth feel deliberately hurt or provoked, there is a risk that some may respond emotionally or with full force. Such a development could turn football matches into scenes of confrontation, putting innocent supporters, players, and officials in danger.
That is precisely why responsible leadership must intervene before tensions boil over. Political opponents should not be allowed to turn stadia terraces into theatres of political confrontation, while party supporters must resist the temptation to retaliate.
FIFA’s rules and disciplinary framework address spectator misconduct, discriminatory behaviour, and conduct that threatens the safety or integrity of football. However, not every political chant is automatically prohibited. The relevant authorities must establish whether these particular chants breach applicable competition rules, stadium regulations, or the law.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), match organisers, clubs, and security agencies should investigate the recurring incidents, examine available footage, and determine whether there is evidence of a well-organised political scheme to destabilise the country through unsuspecting football fans. If financial sponsorship or deliberate incitement is established, those responsible must face appropriate consequences.
Zambia must not wait for the first serious clash before taking preventive action.
Football belongs to the people, not to political parties. Stadia must remain places where citizens can support their teams without intimidation, provocation, or fear.
The question is no longer simply who is chanting “Pelampi”. It is whether a potentially dangerous pattern is emerging, who may be behind it, and what the authorities intend to do before it threatens public order.
Investigate the pattern. Establish the facts. Enforce the rules impartially. Do not allow football to become another front in Zambia’s political battles.
