The power struggle within the Tonse Alliance has intensified after the faction led by Given Lubinda convened a parallel Council of Leaders meeting in Lusaka .
The meeting was held despite the Patriotic Front (PF) being declared expelled from the alliance by Tonse vice-chairperson Dan Pule and former political adviser to the late President Edgar Lungu, Zumani Zimba. The Lubinda-led faction dismissed the expulsion as illegal, maintaining control of what it described as the alliance’s administrative structures.
According to a statement issued by faction spokesperson Ephraim Shakafuswa, the meeting considered applications from new political parties and civil society organisations seeking to join the alliance, as well as requests for re-admission from former members. Eleven new organisations were admitted, including the Resolute Party, Democratic Union, Citizens Democratic Party and the Exodus Party for Peace.
The Council also approved the re-admission of the New Congress Party (NCP) and United for Better Zambia (UBZ).
The parallel meeting comes amid an ongoing dispute with the Tonse faction led by Mr Pule and Mr Zimba, which has been operating its own alliance structures, including a separate nomination process for alliance chairperson.
Meanwhile, PF faction acting secretary general Celestine Mukandila, who supports Mr Lubinda, warned PF members against associating with the rival Tonse Alliance. In resolutions issued after a PF Central Committee meeting on Monday, the committee said any member who associates with the breakaway faction would face disciplinary action and be deemed to have exited the party.
The PF faction reaffirmed its position as the anchor party of the Tonse Alliance and maintained that Mr Lubinda remains the acting PF president and alliance chairperson. It also reiterated the dismissal of Mr Zimba from the former president’s office and announced the opening of applications for adoption of candidates ahead of the 2026 general elections.
This country is desparate for reliable oppostion to take over and this Lubinda chap seems bent on destroying it raising the question is he a upnd puppet ???
Hello opposition! Clean up your act b4 it’s too late. This election is there for you to lose. There might not even be a winner because we won’t turn up
I am enjoying the drama…..because I am convinced, we have the right government in power, and we dont need change. period.