National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) vice-presidential candidate Makebi Zulu says he and the party’s presidential candidate Brian Mundubile will not respond with insults to remarks made by President Hakainde Hichilema, despite being referred to as “boys” during the launch of the President’s re-election campaign.
Speaking to the media at Yusuf Catholic Radio in Mpika yesterday, Zulu said the duo respects the office of the President and would therefore refrain from engaging in personal attacks against the Head of State.
He noted that the presidency is an office they also aspire to occupy and that maintaining respect for the institution remains important regardless of political differences.
“We will not in any way disrespect our President because that is the position that we wish to occupy. In referring to us as boys, we have heard what you have said,” Zulu stated.
The former Eastern Province minister said he and NRPUP president Brian Mundubile would instead respond through facts, policy discussions and their experience in government.
Zulu argued that both he and Mundubile possess practical knowledge of government operations, having previously served as provincial ministers. He noted that Mundubile served as Northern Province minister while he served as Eastern Province minister, giving them firsthand experience in public administration.
According to Zulu, this experience provides them with an understanding of how government functions and the challenges involved in governance.
He further contrasted their backgrounds with that of President Hichilema, stating that the Head of State entered government from the corporate sector.
“The benefit that we have is that President Brian Mundubile was Northern Province minister, while I was Eastern Province minister. We have the know-how as to how to run a government, whereas President Hakainde Hichilema came from the corporate world into government,” he said.
Zulu was responding to remarks made by President Hichilema during the launch of his re-election campaign at Heroes Stadium on Sunday. During the event, the President questioned the credentials of Mundubile and Zulu, arguing that the two had served as ministers in a government accused of mismanaging public resources and therefore lacked the moral authority to seek national leadership.
The exchange marks the latest development in what is expected to be a closely contested campaign period ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Election.
