Mweetwa’s “We shall do Imingalato” Condemned.

Political analyst Dr Lawrence Mwelwa has warned against the normalisation of electoral deceit, locally referred to as imingalato, following public remarks by Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa, saying the language reflects a broader pattern that threatens Zambia’s democratic integrity ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Speaking on Monday, December 29, 2025, Dr Mwelwa said comments attributed to Mweetwa, in which the government spokesperson told opposition political parties to unite or prepare to face a “new wave of imingalato,” were deeply troubling and risked legitimising conduct that undermines free and fair competition.

Dr Mwelwa said imingalato has a specific historical meaning in Zambia’s political discourse, describing inducement, manipulation, and unequal competition rather than democratic mobilisation. He said any suggestion that such tactics are acceptable places the country’s electoral credibility at risk.

“I am compelled, as a political analyst, to issue a firm warning on the tone and direction of our politics as Zambia approaches the 2026 elections,” Dr Mwelwa said. “In our political history, imingalato signifies inducement and unequal competition, not democratic mobilisation.”

He said elections are a constitutional process owned by the people, not by political parties, and warned that rhetoric implying entitlement to electoral outcomes erodes public confidence in democratic institutions. He said such language places pressure on governance bodies, particularly the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), which must operate independently.

“Fair play must be demonstrated through restraint, not rhetoric,” he said.

Dr Mwelwa further said the concerns he raised were not isolated to recent remarks, but were rooted in events he said had occurred in previous months. He said the same terminology had earlier been used by President Hakainde Hichilema, and that this coincided with developments he described as victimisation of the family of a former Head of State.

According to Dr Mwelwa, those developments amounted to a practical demonstration of imingalato, aimed at silencing political opposition. He said the actions sent a message about the use of state power in a partisan manner.

He also pointed to the emergence of Miles Sampa as leader of the Patriotic Front, which he said followed a convention he described as illegal and not sanctioned under the party’s constitutional requirements. Dr Mwelwa said the process through which leadership changed hands raised serious questions about adherence to political party rules.

Dr Mwelwa further cited what he described as another instance of imingalato involving Robert Chabinga, whom he said signed documents purporting to transfer control of the Patriotic Front presidency. He said these actions were, in his view, facilitated through irregular processes involving the Registrar of Societies, and that this reflected undue state interference in party affairs.

According to Dr Mwelwa, these developments were compounded by what he described as the executive exerting influence over both the judiciary and the legislature. He said this convergence of power created an environment in which electoral manipulation could be normalised.

He said, viewed in that context, it was not surprising that Mweetwa could confidently speak of imingalato being deployed in the run-up to the 2026 elections.

“It is for this reason that such statements should alarm every Zambian,” Dr Mwelwa said. “They reflect a pattern, not an isolated comment.”

Dr Mwelwa said opposition political parties should treat calls for unity from the ruling party with caution and respond with vigilance, cohesion, and legal preparedness. He said pending electoral legislation could further reshape the political terrain and required close scrutiny.

He warned that the cumulative effect of these developments had already compromised the electoral environment. According to Dr Mwelwa, the conditions surrounding the 2026 elections suggested that the contest had been unfairly tilted.

“I urge Zambians to recognise that the 2026 elections are already being shaped unfairly and unsquarely,” Dr Mwelwa said.

He said the integrity of Zambia’s democracy depended on institutional neutrality and respect for the rule of law, adding that history would judge those who sacrifice democratic principles for short-term political advantage.

Concerns over the implications of imingalato rhetoric have also been echoed by other political actors. Brian Mundubile, a presidential aspirant from the Patriotic Front, criticised what he described as a disconnect between international praise for President Hakainde Hichilema and the lived realities of many Zambians.

In a separate statement, Mundubile dismissed recent foreign accolades awarded to the President as detached from domestic challenges facing citizens. He cited poverty, unpaid farmers, shortages of medicines in public hospitals, and persistent power cuts as issues he said continue to affect households across the country.

“London may crown our President today and glorify him; Lusaka counts the kwacha it no longer has, the food it doesn’t have,” Mundubile said, arguing that voters should base their 2026 decisions on accountability rather than international approval.

Meanwhile, Antonio Mwanza, president of the Democratic Progressive Party, addressed growing public calls for opposition unity, acknowledging that fragmentation had weakened the opposition’s effectiveness. However, Mwanza cautioned that alliances formed without a clear, people-centred economic agenda would fail to address underlying socio-economic challenges.

Mwanza said any opposition coalition must present tangible plans to reduce the cost of living, tackle unemployment, and ensure that Zambia’s natural resources benefit citizens broadly rather than a small connected elite.