𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐛𝐢 𝐯𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐅 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝
By Dr. Mwelwa
In the theatre of Zambian politics, money has once again taken center stage loud, restless, and persuasive. The Patriotic Front, now standing at the crossroads of renewal and ruin, faces a question that will define its resurrection or disintegration: will its members choose the glitter of cash, or the grit of character?
Hon. Brian Mundubile stands in the arena calm, steady, unshaken. Around him swirl the torrents of money, influence, and rumour. Names like Hon. Makebi Zulu and Willah Joseph Mudolo are whispered with awe and envy, their campaign machines well-oiled, their generosity flowing like rivers in a dry land. Meanwhile, Mundubile the man with no bags of cash to throw around is accused of being a “UPND project.”
But one must ask, with sober curiosity: how can a man be a UPND project, yet have no money to distribute? How can he be funded by the state, yet move without the privileges that others, even in opposition, quietly enjoy? It is public knowledge that Mundubile is owed millions of dollars by the government arrears that remain unpaid. If indeed he were a project of those in power, would those debts still stand? Would the same system he is accused of serving not have cleared him to lubricate his campaign?
This accusation is not only lazy; it insults the collective intelligence of the PF membership. It assumes that Zambians cannot tell the difference between propaganda and principle. The truth is simpler, and more uncomfortable: Mundubile is not the wealthiest man in this contest but he might just be the most grounded.
The Patriotic Front must now choose its path. Will it sell its rebirth to the highest bidder, or will it return to its founding values service, loyalty, and sacrifice? Money can buy crowds, but it cannot buy conviction. It can print posters, but it cannot print integrity.
Yes, Makebi Zulu’s campaign shines with youthful energy and resources, and Mudolo’s network stretches wide and deep. But the real question confronting the PF faithful is this: when the money dries up, who will still stand with the people?
Mundubile’s quiet endurance and unbought loyalty might not excite those addicted to instant gratification, but history has always been kinder to men of principle than to men of purse. As the PF prepares to elect its leader, let it remember movements built on money collapse when the donors walk away, but those built on conviction live long after the applause fades.
So let them spend their millions; let the dollars flow like rivers. But in the end, Zambia will remember that character, not cash, is what sustains leadership. And perhaps then, we shall finally see whether the PF seeks a president for the people or just another benefactor for the powerful.
Ndeloleshafye ….
Let’s wait and see what happens next, money can never buy true and genuine conviction.
Ta kuli no kushipafye.
Is it scratch me I scratch you back.
None has given any tangible plan for economic turn around, its just the usual standard rhetoric and political speeches
I am looking for somebody who will say this is how I will crack the energy crisis, a real auditable plan with time frames
It is a good season for cadres who were trained to wait for ba Boss, to……… Yes, time has come. Ifyola no tusaka twandalama from SAAsA! Please baswenimo, but when the voting time comes vote for the right and wise leader. Money does not make one wise.
All the eleven opposition presidential aspirants are from the Northern of Zambia i.e Luapula, muchinga and Northern province and just three from eastern (Nason Msoni, Sean Tembo and Makebi zulu) and only Greyford Monde from western. This is good because they allow their sons and daughters to get exposed publicly and have many alternatives to field as presidents in future. Mmembe is both north and west. Bembas and Easterners are open to try being different
You can try that if you ancestors are from Southern province because the same Tongaz include chiefs will bring you down
regardless of how competent one is