Xavier Chungu Withdraws from Presidential Race, Endorses Brian Mundubile
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential candidate Xavier Franklin Chungu has withdrawn from the 13 August General Election and endorsed National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, saying his prolonged detention and ongoing legal proceedings have made it impossible for him to mount a meaningful national campaign in Zambia.
In a letter announcing his decision, Chungu, who has remained in police custody since 28 May 2026, said the move followed deep reflection, prayer and consultations. He described the decision to step aside as one of the most difficult of his political life but maintained that placing Zambia’s interests ahead of his personal political ambitions had become the only responsible course of action in Zambia.
The former intelligence chief also threw his full support behind Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, urging his supporters and all Zambians who shared his vision to rally behind the NRPUP ticket in the forthcoming elections.
Chungu said his campaign had been fought not on the streets of Zambia but inside prison cells and courtrooms, circumstances he said had denied him a fair opportunity to present his policies and engage voters across the country. He said continuing with his candidacy under those conditions would not serve either the democratic process or the people he had hoped to represent.
He stressed that his withdrawal should not be interpreted as a victory for those he believes seek to undermine democracy or divide the country. Instead, Chungu said the decision reflected his commitment to safeguarding constitutionalism and ensuring that the broader struggle for democratic governance continued through other means.
The LDP leader remains before the courts facing charges of Communication of Certain Information, Seditious Practices, and Publication or Disclosure of Information to an Unauthorised Person under Zambian law. His continued detention has effectively prevented him from participating in campaign activities during the critical weeks leading up to polling day.
By endorsing Mundubile, Chungu becomes one of the presidential candidates to publicly throw his weight behind another opposition contender before the elections. His endorsement adds another voice to the growing efforts by sections of the opposition seeking to consolidate support ahead of the national vote.
Political attention will now turn to whether Chungu’s endorsement translates into electoral support for the Mundubile-Zulu ticket, particularly among LDP supporters who had remained committed to his candidature despite his incarceration.
Although Chungu will no longer contest the presidency, he indicated that his commitment to Zambia’s democratic future remains unchanged. He said his decision was guided by what he believed would best serve the country at this stage of the electoral process, while expressing hope that voters would unite behind the ticket he has now chosen to support.
With the withdrawal, the presidential race moves forward without Chungu as an active contender, while his legal matters continue before the courts. His endorsement of Mundubile adds another development to an increasingly competitive campaign as political parties make their final push before Zambians head to the polls on 13 August.
