UPND Copperbelt Secretary Resigns, Enters Kabushi Race as Independent

Simangolwa successfully filed his nomination papers at Lubuto Secondary School in Ndola, becoming the last candidate to complete the process at around 20:30 hours after spending the day at the nomination centre.

Addressing the media after filing his nomination, Simangolwa said his decision to stand as an independent candidate followed extensive consultations with family members, friends and supporters.

He expressed disappointment with the UPND National Management Committee’s decision not to adopt him as the party’s candidate for Kabushi Constituency, despite his long service to the ruling party.

“I was disappointed by the UPND National Management Committee’s decision not to adopt me for the seat despite my loyalty and service in various senior positions for over 15 years,” he said.

Simangolwa questioned why party members who had contributed significantly to the growth of the UPND were overlooked during the adoption process.

He further alleged that the adoption process was influenced by corruption, claiming that the party’s chosen candidate, Emelda Mpupuni, was an outsider who had not been actively involved in addressing the needs of Kabushi residents.

According to Simangolwa, supporters in Kabushi encouraged him to remain in the race and even contributed towards the K17,000 nomination fee required by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

He also recalled the 2021 elections, saying he respected the party’s decision to support former Kabushi lawmaker Bernard Kanengo after a successful court petition that unseated Bowman Lusambo.

“Everyone remembers in 2021 how I respected the party’s decision. This time, I have decided to offer myself to the people of Kabushi,” he said.

Simangolwa expressed confidence of winning the constituency, citing his longstanding engagement with residents and extensive grassroots work in the area.

His entry into the race as an independent candidate sets up a potentially competitive contest in Kabushi Constituency and highlights growing tensions surrounding candidate adoption processes ahead of the general elections.