Socialist Party cites People’s Pact option if Tonse alliance falters
The Socialist Party has stated that the People’s Pact remains a viable political option should the Tonse Alliance fail to resolve its internal leadership and organisational difficulties, signalling continued uncertainty within Zambia’s opposition landscape ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Socialist Party general secretary Dr Cosmas Musumali said the People’s Pact was established to provide an organised platform for cooperation among opposition parties and would remain available if existing alliance arrangements continued to face instability. He said prolonged internal disputes within major opposition formations risked weakening collective efforts to provide a credible alternative to the ruling party.
The comments come against the backdrop of persistent leadership challenges within the Patriotic Front and broader strains inside the Tonse Alliance, which was formed as a coalition of opposition parties seeking to coordinate electoral strategy. While the alliance played a central role in recent political cycles, it has faced structural and organisational pressures following changes in leadership dynamics.
Dr Musumali said the Socialist Party had previously engaged with Tonse Alliance partners in the interest of opposition cooperation, but warned that unity could not be sustained indefinitely without clarity, discipline, and functional structures. He said alliances that remain preoccupied with internal disputes risk losing relevance and momentum.
According to Dr Musumali, the People’s Pact was conceived as a pragmatic arrangement designed to accommodate parties committed to cooperation based on shared principles rather than personalities. He said the framework allowed participating parties to retain their identities while working toward common objectives, particularly during elections.
He said continued uncertainty within Tonse had raised questions about whether the alliance could effectively reposition itself as a cohesive force. Dr Musumali noted that opposition supporters were increasingly expressing frustration with what they viewed as stagnation caused by unresolved leadership issues.
The Socialist Party official said the opposition’s challenge was not simply to oppose the ruling party but to demonstrate organisational maturity and readiness to govern. He said this required consistent messaging, policy clarity, and internal stability across opposition platforms.
Dr Musumali also reflected on the historical context surrounding opposition alliances in Zambia, noting that coalitions often struggle when they rely heavily on individual figures rather than institutions. He said alliances needed clear rules and predictable processes to survive leadership transitions.
He said the People’s Pact was not being promoted as a rival project but as a contingency mechanism designed to ensure that opposition cooperation does not collapse entirely if Tonse fails to regain stability. He said such arrangements were necessary to avoid fragmentation of the opposition vote.
Dr Musumali emphasised that the Socialist Party remained open to cooperation with other political formations, provided such cooperation was grounded in transparency and mutual respect. He said alliances should serve the interests of voters rather than internal power struggles.
The statement also highlights wider concerns about opposition preparedness as the 2026 elections draw closer. Analysts have pointed to the risk that prolonged internal disagreements could erode public confidence in opposition parties’ ability to offer effective governance alternatives.
While the ruling party continues to consolidate its position, opposition formations face pressure to demonstrate unity and organisational coherence. Dr Musumali said failure to address internal weaknesses would leave opposition parties vulnerable, regardless of popular dissatisfaction with government performance.
He said the Socialist Party’s position was guided by the need to maintain political relevance and to provide voters with clear choices. He said uncertainty within major alliances required smaller parties to assess their strategic options carefully.
The People’s Pact, he said, remained available as one such option, should circumstances require a shift in opposition cooperation arrangements.
The formation of the people’s pack is welcome and a good thy. But the only problem I contained in Fred Membe, who from very long time has just been preoccupied with jealous and hatred HH personally, with only one dream of removing HH from presidency. As a result he has no message that can resonate well with the electorate. When HH makes anything that is appreciated by citizens, with him he complains. Free education he complains, increased CDF, he complains, recruitment of More civil servants, he complains, Reduction of load shedding, he complains, reopening of mines he complains, just to satisfy his hatred against HH
The formation of the people’s pact is a good thing. But the only problem is contained in Fred Membe, who from very long time has been preoccupied with jealous and hatred against HH, personally with only one dream of removing HH from presidency.. As a result he has no no message that resonates well with the electorate.Whenever HH makes anything that is appreciated by citizens, with him he complains; Free education he complains, increased CDF he complains, recruitment of More civil servants he complains, reduction of load shedding he complains, reopening of mines he complains, just to satisfy his hatred against HH. He is not a kind of a political leader that a nation needs as an alternative.
Membe`s hatred and jealousy will kill him. The guy is so selfish. How can we have such people as aspiring presidential candidate? Come on Zambian we can do better.
But even HH is exactly like that!
Every government has a social contract with its citizens