“I Feel Dumped on a Political Dumpsite,” Says Gary Nkombo

Nkombo Says He Feels “Dumped on a Political Dumpsite” as Supporters Push Independent Bid

Former minister tells Mazabuka gathering he feels discarded by political allies despite years of sacrifice for UPND

MAZABUKA — Former Local Government and Rural Development Minister Gary Nkombo says he feels like he has been “dumped on a political dumpsite” by people he once fought alongside in the UPND, in emotional remarks that have intensified speculation over his political future ahead of the August 13 general election.

Addressing a large gathering of supporters in Mazabuka, Nkombo bemoaned what he described as political abandonment after years of loyalty and sacrifice for the ruling party. The veteran politician said he now finds himself being questioned, investigated and accused of matters he does not fully understand despite his long-standing contribution to the UPND.

In one of the strongest emotional remarks of his political career, Nkombo said he felt as though he had been thrown onto “a political dumpsite”, a statement supporters interpreted as meaning he had been treated like political rubbish or no longer considered useful within sections of the ruling establishment.

The remarks drew emotional reactions from supporters, many of whom openly urged him to contest the Mazabuka Central parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.

Several supporters praised Nkombo’s role in defending the UPND during difficult years in opposition, including periods of political violence before the party formed government in 2021. Some recalled how he sustained injuries, including a broken arm, during clashes linked to earlier political campaigns.

Others pointed to his visible role during the tense 2021 election period, particularly at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre where party officials and agents closely monitored vote verification processes.

Supporters told the former minister they had not seen any wrongdoing on his part that justified what they described as his political isolation.

Some members of the gathering even pledged to mobilise money for his nomination fees should he decide to stand as an independent candidate in this year’s election.

The gathering, however, repeatedly stressed that their support for Nkombo did not amount to rejecting President Hakainde Hichilema.

One spokesperson from the crowd said many supporters wanted a split-ticket arrangement in which voters would back President Hichilema for the presidency while retaining Nkombo as Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central.

“For presidency let them vote for President HH, and for MP let them vote for Gary Nkombo,” the spokesperson said.

Addressing the emotionally charged gathering, Nkombo urged calm and restraint from his supporters as pressure mounted on him to declare his next political move.

“Do you really mean what you are asking me to do?” he asked supporters. He then urged them to return home and reflect carefully before making what he described as a major political decision with long-term consequences.

The former minister asked supporters to reconvene today at 09:00 hours for further consultations and a possible decision on the way forward. Despite frustration from sections of his support base, Nkombo maintained that his loyalty to the UPND remained deeply rooted.

I am UPND inside and out. All my body organs are UPND,” he told the gathering.At the same time, he signalled that he could not simply ignore the people who had supported both him and the ruling party over the years. “One thing I will not do is deny what you people that put me and UPND in power want, he said.

The developments have renewed attention on earlier remarks by former Lumezi independent lawmaker Munir Zulu, who months ago warned that sidelining Nkombo could have serious political consequences because of his influence and grassroots support.

In remarks that circulated widely on social media earlier this year, Zulu described Nkombo as one of the ruling party’s biggest political figures whose decisions could significantly affect the electoral landscape.

“A few weeks ago I had mentioned that any decision that my elder brother makes will have a huge impact politically,” Zulu said at the time.

He further stated that Nkombo remained “a force to reckon with politically” and suggested that any move he makes, including backing opposition candidates or standing independently, would carry weight nationally.

The renewed pressure on Nkombo comes months after he was dropped from Cabinet during President Hichilema’s ministerial reshuffle, a development that triggered speculation about internal tensions within the ruling party.

Attention has now shifted to today’s scheduled meeting in Mazabuka where supporters expect Nkombo to indicate whether he will remain fully within the UPND structure or take a different political path ahead of nominations.