Tonse Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has urged voters in Northern Province to remove the United Party for National Development (UPND) from office in next month’s general election, describing the 13 August vote as Zambia’s “second liberation” and calling on supporters to “retire” the ruling party at the ballot box.
Addressing thousands of supporters during a campaign stop in the province, Mundubile said the UPND administration had exhausted its opportunity to deliver meaningful change, arguing that the upcoming election offered citizens a decisive chance to choose a different direction for the country.
The Tonse Alliance candidate built his message around economic hardship, public service delivery and what he described as the need to restore dignity to ordinary Zambians. He pledged to improve outcomes under the free education policy and provide relief for heavily indebted civil servants, presenting his platform as an answer to concerns he said had accumulated during the ruling party’s first five years in office.
Mundubile also questioned whether improvements in Zambia’s headline economic indicators reflected the realities facing many households. His campaign has consistently argued that stronger macroeconomic figures, including the country’s growing foreign exchange reserves, have yet to translate into meaningful relief from the rising cost of living.
The Northern Province campaign formed part of the Tonse Alliance’s broader push to consolidate support ahead of polling day, with Mundubile continuing to contrast his policy proposals with what he described as unfulfilled promises made by the UPND before taking office.
His visit came as political campaigning entered a more intense phase, with the Electoral Commission of Zambia facing criticism from opposition figures over its handling of incidents of political violence in Kaputa and Magoye East.
Questions have also emerged following the Commission’s suspension of campaign activities by the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity in Kaputa Constituency after a fatal incident. Despite the suspension, party spokesperson Mpundu has said campaign activities will continue, adding another point of contention during the election period.
The developments have unfolded against a backdrop of growing calls for peaceful campaigning. Civil society organisations and traditional leaders in several provinces have urged political parties to focus on issues affecting citizens while avoiding rhetoric capable of heightening political tensions ahead of the polls.
Government has rejected the opposition’s criticism of its record. UPND deputy spokesperson Elvis Nkandu has urged voters not to “experiment” with a change of leadership, arguing that the current administration has delivered measurable progress over the past five years and should be given another mandate.
The competing messages illustrate the increasingly contrasting visions being presented to voters as campaigning intensifies ahead of the August election. While Mundubile is asking Zambians to use the ballot to replace the current administration, the ruling party continues to campaign on its record in office, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive contest in the weeks leading to polling day.
