Speaking on a podcast hosted by Emmanuel Mwamba, Zulu said genuine opposition unity would only be achieved if former PF members returned to the party instead of expecting those who remained to leave and join breakaway groups.
He dismissed calls for PF members to join splinter formations in the name of unity, stating that unity should not require those who stayed to follow those who departed.
“This call for unity is not for the movement of those that have remained behind to follow one that has gone prodigal,” Zulu said. “It is for the one that is prodigal to come back to the house and we will say everything that happened is forgone.”
The PF is currently divided between a faction led by Given Lubinda and another led by Robert Chabinga, which is officially recognised by the Registrar of Societies. Lubinda and his supporters, including Zulu, also distanced themselves from the Tonse Alliance, initially led by Dan Pule and now chaired by Mundubile.
Zulu argued that unity cannot be built on unilateral political moves or public appeals.
“You can’t get away, have yourself crowned king and say come and be my deputy. Is that what we’re going to call unity?” he said.
He maintained that he remains open to working with Mundubile, but only through what he described as a legitimate and inclusive process.
“I want to work with my brother, but not in the circumstances that he’s in. Come back to the larger family and let’s carry this whole family together,” Zulu said.
Mundubile was recently elected chairperson of the Tonse Alliance ahead of the 2026 general elections, despite caution from Lubinda advising PF members against associating with the alliance. He has publicly expressed interest in collaborating with Zulu, including discussions on possible leadership arrangements.
Zulu clarified that previous engagements between them occurred before Mundubile’s departure from the PF and were aimed at preserving internal unity.
Meanwhile, Zulu confirmed receiving a formal invitation from the New Congress Party (NCP), which announced him as its preferred presidential candidate. He acknowledged the offer but said he has not formally accepted it.
He reiterated that any political cooperation must follow a structured process designed to heal divisions rather than deepen them.
