The United Party for National Development (UPND) has directed all its lower structures to halt public statements with immediate effect after a series of conflicting remarks from junior officials placed the party under intense scrutiny.
Secretary General Batuke Imenda issued instructions , that all political commentary must be cleared through his office and the Chairperson for Information and Publicity, working through the Party’s Media Director.
“It is the guidance of the Party that all official statements must be cleared through the Office of the Secretary General and the Chairperson for Information and Publicity, through the Party’s Media Director,” Imenda said. He explained that the internal control was aimed at ensuring accuracy, consistency and alignment with the party’s official positions.
The directive follows a turbulent period marked by contradictory statements from individuals at district and youth levels. One of the most notable incidents involved Kabwe Acting Youth Chairman Kelvin Mwangala, who released an early statement suggesting that UPND cadres assaulted former minister Given Lubinda. He later circulated a retraction that differed sharply from his first version, drawing public attention to the conflicting messages.
Tension increased when UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe appeared on television and stated that the party “does not know” Mwangala. The comment created further debate, particularly as opposition figures used the situation to argue that the ruling party lacked centralised control over its messaging.
The incidents coincided with national focus on recent political violence, including the assault at the PF Secretariat, the Kabwe episode involving Lubinda and the stoning of President Hakainde Hichilema’s motorcade in Chingola. In each case, various UPND members published their own accounts before the party had issued verified information, creating a series of competing narratives across social media.
UPND leadership has been attempting to address this pattern for several months. Since the party entered government in 2021, its structures have expanded rapidly, bringing in large numbers of provincial and ward-level leaders who use Facebook to comment on national issues. This growth has increased the number of voices presenting themselves as official spokespeople. According to senior members, statements often appear online before national officials have coordinated a response, resulting in confusion around the party’s stance on sensitive matters.
Imenda said the new directive is intended to re-establish a single authoritative channel. He warned that any member or structure that issues unauthorised statements will be subject to disciplinary measures under the party’s regulations. “Any member or structure found issuing unauthorized statements will be in breach of party regulations and will face appropriate disciplinary action,” he said.
He added that the UPND remains focused on promoting responsible communication. “The UPND remains committed to upholding peace, unity, and the rule of law. We urge all members to continue promoting the values of discipline and responsible communication that our Party stands for,” he stated.
Internal sources say the leadership is concerned that the speed of online commentary has created a cycle where unverified statements are shared widely before the party can confirm facts. This situation became more apparent over the past two weeks, as party members delivered conflicting explanations of the Kabwe violence and the Chingola incident. In several cases, the national secretariat later issued clarifications that differed significantly from the first statements released by lower structures.
The communications blackout will require all district, constituency, ward and youth officials to refrain from making public comments, including on their personal social media accounts, without prior clearance. The party hopes the restriction will reduce public confusion and prevent further contradictions during periods of heightened political attention.
Opposition parties have already incorporated the recent inconsistencies into their criticism of the ruling party. Whether the blackout succeeds in stabilising the party’s message will depend on the enforcement of disciplinary actions in the coming days, as the UPND attempts to re-establish firm control over its internal communication lines.
