A representative linked to the Mwanachingwala chiefdom has publicly condemned the attack on former Mazabuka Central lawmaker Gary Nkombo, injecting traditional authority into what is fast becoming one of the most combustible political flashpoints of the 2026 election cycle, highlighting the challenges faced by Gary in his constituency.
In an audio statement now circulating widely on social media, the speaker who identified himself as a deputy representative of the chiefdom accused outsiders of being deliberately mobilised to disrupt Gary Nkombo’s activities in his home constituency.
“People from Monze and people from Lusaka teamed up and came to attack him in his own homeland,” he said.
The violence erupted earlier this week when Nkombo arrived at the Mazabuka Civic Centre to file nomination papers as an independent candidate for the August 13 general election. Footage that spread rapidly online showed torn clothing, physical confrontations and individuals in UPND regalia near the nomination centre. Police have detained several people in connection with the clashes but have not publicly concluded who organised them.
President Hakainde Hichilema has since condemned the violence a statement that has done little to quiet the noise coming out of Mazabuka.
The chiefdom representative’s remarks went beyond the attack itself. He alleged that aspiring candidate Chipo Chiiya had been issued a party adoption certificate only to be abruptly blocked from proceeding, a claim that has sharpened local frustration over how UPND has handled its candidate selection in the district.
“UPND gave Chipo Chiiya an adoption certificate and immediately when he went to follow up, they said he could not stand. Why?” he asked.
He also pressed a broader territorial argument: that Mazabuka’s member of parliament should come from within the chiefdom’s own people, given that the constituency falls within Chief Mwanachingwala’s traditional territory. The suggestion that candidates from outside the area are being installed over local figures has resonated in a district where traditional and political loyalties have long been intertwined.
The representative stopped short of announcing formal action but warned that lawyers could be engaged to challenge what he described as unfair treatment in the adoption process.
Nkombo’s break from UPND, after years as a senior figure in President Hichilema’s government, most recently as Local Government and Rural Development minister, has rattled political structures across Southern Province. His move to contest independently has drawn fierce reactions from sections of the ruling party’s base, and the Civic Centre chaos was an early sign of how volatile that rupture could become.
With campaigns now in full swing and August approaching, Mazabuka has quickly become the nomination period’s most politically charged constituency. a test not just of party discipline, but of how far traditional authority is willing to assert itself when it feels sidelined.
FULL TRANSCRIPT
“I am Deputy Chief Mwanachingwala representative and I wish to make a comment on the beating of former Mazabuka MP Gary Nkombo and the grabbing of adoption certificate from Chipo Chiiya. Both are from Chief Mwanachingwala and that I’m not happy what is now happening with UPND government over mistreating the people of Mwanachingwala.
I wish to ask whoever is organizing to attack this guy please to stop it. UPND gave Chipo Chiiya an adoption certificate and immediately when he went to file they said no he can’t. Why? And then they decided to give it to somebody who is not from our chiefdom. When we, this town Mazabuka is in our chiefdom it’s not fair.
Few days ago you saw what happened with Gary Nkombo. People from Monze, people from Lusaka, teamed together hired by someone come and attack him in his own motherland. What the hell is this?
Please UPND should stop this nonsense. We no longer want this. Can they just make up their mind? We need Mazabuka MP from our chiefdom because this thing it is a rural constituency which is in our territory. So the MP must be from here.
The mayor must be from as well from Mazabuka, mayor must be from Chief Mwanachingwala. Otherwise this one I’m telling you we are going to ask our lawyers and give the correct advice for them to stop this nonsense.”
Someone says HH now hates Nkombo more than he hates Nakachinda. Can anyone tell us what Nkombo did to invite this kind of wrath from HH?
Ambulance cash deals maybe.
Also whatdid Lungu do ??? We know what hh did
ga gadot justin timberlake putin who are they
These chiefs will do well to study how chitimukulu got himself in trouble with the boma by getting too involved in cadarisim…….,
FWD2041
You should live in North Korea. Your sentiments are misplaced in a democracy
To suggest that Garry Nkombo was BEATEN, I think its MISLEADING.
If you watch that Video carefully, its that Garry was surrounded by Cadres who were shouting at him, HOWEVER, IT WAS GARRY WHO WAS IN ACTION Hitting and kicking the Cadres.
The whole story is being twisted to favour Garry, the cadres were attempting to pull Gary and prevent him from entering the room, but in no way was he beaten.
So Gary called them there so he could beat them? Get a life
There is a pattern by Nkombo of instigating and inviting trouble ..,……..
We remember him at a filling station when he was opposition,,………
Inviting a police man into conflict with him for media purposes……..
That policeman acted very professionally, unfortunately for mr Nkombo
FWD2041
Spaka you are afraid of the existence of a single independent MP candidate? Strange creature, perhaps you want only kk and frog for each parliament, no democracy or anything like that
He felt intimadated and deserved the right of reply
Lat’s not pretend all is well
Balance Kazembe, Tikki
On the contrary, I support elections and participation…….
After all Garry is UPND through and through……..
I’m just pointing out that Nkombo has a tendency of attracting trouble
FWD2041
@spaka I agree and still don’t understand why he was fired, a different question. I always thought he would make a good VP for UPND now what is the real story?
@Balance: Spaka is one of the hypocrites democracy has allowed to fool citizens. He loves democracy only when it brings his dictatorship to power.
Hes scared of any challenge to his preferred tyrant. Most tribalists are like that because they hide in politics but their true goals lie in tribal supremacy or exterminating those of another tribe.
Gary hitting cadres? With his potbelly and all? That lie is from cartoon network
Balance Kazembe
Incompetence
Unfortunately mr Nkombo took things for granted
FWD2041
UPND cadres here, just shurup . PF left mealie meal at K120, fuel at K17 and fertiliser at K650. How much is it now? Vima excuse fulu fulu
How much did MMD leave those things ???
Apparently there is a thing called inflation which unfortunately for you also affected PF because things were cheaper under MMD….
FWD2041
Garbage in Garbage out….we luck proper Leadership in Africa…..just look at South Africa….with all its wealth…Malawi…Zimbabwe….Kenya….Burundi…Zambia…CAR….Nigeria and the rest of African countries all just useless
No man deserves to be blocked and attacked by people he once broke bread with but what goes around comes around 13 Aug 2026
Upnd has lost mazabuka.
How many constituencies are in Mazabuka?
Thank God am not a Politician….and i have zero intentions of becoming one…i would rather sweep the streets or mow the lawn for a living than being a Politician…fact
In the US yes. But in Zambia and most other African countries all the rich men are politicians. You can only manipulate money(mind you, money, not produce) if you are a politician. That’s the profession of the corrupt.
Perfect job description for a Politician…profession of the corrupt..i agree with you…
A conjurer’s moneymaking profession? Yeah, imagine. In an industry which produces nothing!
Just ask Africa’s richest Politician Moroccan King Mohammed worth $10 billion,
And the other rich politicians?
President Ruto in Kenya, Sassou Ngueso in congo, Yoweri Museveni in Uganda, Hakainde Hichilema in Zambia, Teodoro Nguema in Equatorial Guinea, all dollar millionaires who produce nothing except talk talk and talk
Better to talk than to mine diamonds???
Imagine…just talk talk talk and the gullible followers keep on listening to them…they want to be in Politics because there’s free money in Government….you become a billionaire overnight
Gary staged this, but it will backfire and his cases are waiting for him, hence his desperation