Veteran broadcaster and journalist Maureen Nkandu has announced her candidacy for the newly established Nkundalila Constituency in Serenje District, where she will contest as an independent in the August 13, 2026 general election.
Her decision follows Zambia’s recent constituency delimitation exercise, which introduced 70 new constituencies, increasing the total from 156 to 226. Among these is Nkundalila Constituency, carved out of Serenje District.
Nkandu said her entry into politics is motivated by a strong sense of responsibility to serve her community and champion rural development. Speaking in an interview with Kalemba, she described her candidacy as a step toward making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
“I am stepping forward to run as an Independent Member of Parliament for Nkundalila Constituency in Serenje. As a proud Zambian mother with deep grassroots and international experience, I feel a strong duty to serve and drive meaningful rural development in our beloved country,” she said.
Describing herself as a “daughter of the soil,” Nkandu emphasized her deep-rooted connection to the area, noting that Nkundalila is where she originates from. She added that her decision came after careful reflection and consultations.
“It has taken me time to reflect and consult, and I have decided to go for it. I am deeply passionate about bringing meaningful change to my hometown, Serenje,” she said.
Her campaign will focus on key development areas such as healthcare, women’s empowerment, agricultural growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and education. Nkandu also expressed her intention to contribute to national economic strategies, particularly as the country prepares for its 9th National Development Plan in 2027.
With decades of experience in journalism and international communications, Nkandu has worked with leading institutions including the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, South African Broadcasting Corporation, and the BBC World Service. Her career has seen her report extensively across Africa, including from conflict zones, before transitioning into senior roles with global organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, and the African Union.
Iwe Maureen join Mundubile!
Anyway, that’s my hometown I have a large following there so I can also come and stand
Broke woman with no nothing to offer. What experience has she ever done which benefitted serenje?
Offering herself to who? She is for her husband and not for serenje people who dont need her services.
These people think they can always come back and pretend to be doing the villagers a favour by scooping the Parliamentarly
seats in areas they have hardly had anything to do with. Anyway, I dont come from serenje. I would have decampaigned this women to the fullest.
Paulo ma jealous Yolanda logic. What experience did HH have? What experience did Syakalima have? What experience did Mweetwa have? What experience did any of the present loafers in Parliament have? Let the woman exercise her right to stand
@Paulo ma jealous yopanda logic. What experience did HH have? What experience did Syakalima have? What experience did Mweetwa have? What experience did any of the present loafers in Parliament have? Let the woman exercise her right to stand
Anyone willing to leave the studio lights for the dust of rural work deserves respect. If she delivers on development the way she delivered stories, Serenje wins. And she will be running as an independent, that’s the kind of backbone we need. someone who won’t bow to party games and will fight for real development on the ground. Good to see someone stepping up who’s actually held leaders accountable before. If she brings that same toughness to Parliament, the people of Serenje will finally get straight answers
Yayi baba there’s no dust inside parly. Aircon and Carpets all over and a motel full of whisky a stone’s throw away
How will she bring development because the 3 jobs of an MP are make laws, hold government accountable and approve national budget.
Why is it that in our country, there is a misconception that MPs can bring development. Respect to her though, she is not a hungry defector like those going to UPND, a party that has completely failed to change the lives of people, the economy is even worse than for the previous regime
@Bende Arche
I totally agree with you. She is fresh air in politics but she should not pressure on herself.
@Bende that arose out of the 2nd Republic where all MPs had to work for the ruling party.
So as individuals they had to show how they influenced the party to develop their constituency. We needed total reform in 1991 but we did not go about political change like professionals.
So we are still trapped in Second Republic mentalities. That’s why you see the president appointing PSs who are actually supposed to be technocrats for various civil service departments. They are supposed to be promoted via govt structures-certainly not party cadres.
Go for it and go and stop such responses in parliament from the Vice President.
Question: When is top dressing fertilise being delivered to farmers? Answer: Soon. (How can soon be an answer, compare the answers in British parliament, their speaker would not even allow such)
Question: Why are we not importing fuel from the region? Answer: We have been talking to Angola and Nigeria, infact we have been talking to Nigeria even before the war.
The correct answer should have been this is the status quo with our talks with Angola. This is where we are with our talks with Nigeria.
You are right Valdez with the hollow answers from our parliament. And somebody says we recruited the 4000 Police officers secretly because we had a data base of 100,000 and nobody in the whole parliament even asks further on what criteria was used to extract the 4000 from the 100,000 data base. And such an important question technically remains unanswered, just imagine.
@Valdez MPs and other politicians need orientation. Like that done to diplomats before they are posted. Perhaps NIPA could help.
Most of them-top to bottom-know nothing about their jobs in the house. That’s why they end up dozing in their seats. In a democracy the country needs a sharp, thinking and progressive Parliament
Encouraging indeed
BUT we need presidential candidates PLEASE
The people are screaming for one to come forward
? kwisa.
Sishuwa Sishuwa but he has chickened out.
I think Chishala Kateka or Sanger’s would be good contenders.
Sangwa…..
Thanks Madam. Just explain briefly how your international experience comes in?
You are most welcome to join the political fray although whether you will make an impact or not remains to be seen
This would be a top quality MP. Let her share campaign link……we help her.
International experience…my asssss…and nothing to show for it….she has just realized that she has nothing saved up for retirement now trying to join thieving Politicians and become a pompwe
Don’t be so chauvinistic. You never issue such insults when Mmembe announces his candidature, Mundubile wants to be president, Makebi wants to stand
Can’t you men spare our women?