NCP Withdraws from Tonse Alliance, Citing Greed and Disunity

The New Congress Party (NCP) has announced its withdrawal from the Tonse Alliance, accusing alliance partners of greed, ego, and sidelining smaller parties. NCP leader Peter Chanda said the party would stand independently in future political engagements, including the 2026 general elections, following what he described as a breakdown in the coalition’s founding values.

Announcing the decision, Chanda said the alliance had departed from its core principles, with most members prioritising personal ambitions over collective responsibility. He explained that the NCP, which had been designated by late former president Edgar Lungu as the special purpose vehicle to lead the Tonse Alliance into the next elections, could no longer operate in a structure characterised by disunity and lack of consultation.

“As you all have witnessed, the Tonse Alliance has departed from the core values it was formed around because most members have put personal egos first and greedy agendas over collective responsibility, the virtues the alliance was built on,” Chanda said.

He noted that divisions within the alliance had become evident for all Zambians to see, undermining unity of purpose and eroding public confidence in the coalition. He added that lack of meaningful consultation in decision-making had effectively killed the alliance’s operational coherence.

Chanda highlighted that some Patriotic Front (PF) leaders were opposed to NCP’s leadership role within the alliance, creating friction that had stalled progress. “With all this said, I would like to officially announce that the National Congress Party (NCP), which was appointed by late former president Dr Edgar Lungu to lead the Tonse Alliance into the coming general elections, has pulled out of the alliance,” he said.

He urged party members to continue mobilising ahead of next year’s elections, stating that the NCP would now stand on its own. “We have taken this decision after wide consultations from our members across the country. Our focus is to grow the party and remain committed to providing checks and balances to the government,” he said.

Chanda added that the party would embark on a nationwide tour of all ten provinces to consult its structures on the next steps, stressing that the NCP would not be drawn into divisive politics. “We refuse to be drawn into politics of division, hatred, and character assassinations,” he said.

Meanwhile, PF acting president and Tonse Alliance acting chairperson Given Lubinda said he would comment on the matter only after engaging Chanda directly. “I have already sent some people to look for Chanda to get the context of this matter. For now, I cannot comment,” Lubinda stated.

The NCP’s withdrawal marks a significant shift within the Tonse Alliance, which has been a key opposition bloc. The move underscores growing fractures ahead of the 2026 elections, raising questions about the alliance’s capacity to present a united front against the ruling party.