Socialist Party cites People’s Pact option if Tonse alliance falters

The Socialist Party has stated that the People’s Pact remains a viable political option should the Tonse Alliance fail to resolve its internal leadership and organisational difficulties, signalling continued uncertainty within Zambia’s opposition landscape ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Socialist Party general secretary Dr Cosmas Musumali said the People’s Pact was established to provide an organised platform for cooperation among opposition parties and would remain available if existing alliance arrangements continued to face instability. He said prolonged internal disputes within major opposition formations risked weakening collective efforts to provide a credible alternative to the ruling party.

The comments come against the backdrop of persistent leadership challenges within the Patriotic Front and broader strains inside the Tonse Alliance, which was formed as a coalition of opposition parties seeking to coordinate electoral strategy. While the alliance played a central role in recent political cycles, it has faced structural and organisational pressures following changes in leadership dynamics.

Dr Musumali said the Socialist Party had previously engaged with Tonse Alliance partners in the interest of opposition cooperation, but warned that unity could not be sustained indefinitely without clarity, discipline, and functional structures. He said alliances that remain preoccupied with internal disputes risk losing relevance and momentum.

According to Dr Musumali, the People’s Pact was conceived as a pragmatic arrangement designed to accommodate parties committed to cooperation based on shared principles rather than personalities. He said the framework allowed participating parties to retain their identities while working toward common objectives, particularly during elections.

He said continued uncertainty within Tonse had raised questions about whether the alliance could effectively reposition itself as a cohesive force. Dr Musumali noted that opposition supporters were increasingly expressing frustration with what they viewed as stagnation caused by unresolved leadership issues.

The Socialist Party official said the opposition’s challenge was not simply to oppose the ruling party but to demonstrate organisational maturity and readiness to govern. He said this required consistent messaging, policy clarity, and internal stability across opposition platforms.

Dr Musumali also reflected on the historical context surrounding opposition alliances in Zambia, noting that coalitions often struggle when they rely heavily on individual figures rather than institutions. He said alliances needed clear rules and predictable processes to survive leadership transitions.

He said the People’s Pact was not being promoted as a rival project but as a contingency mechanism designed to ensure that opposition cooperation does not collapse entirely if Tonse fails to regain stability. He said such arrangements were necessary to avoid fragmentation of the opposition vote.

Dr Musumali emphasised that the Socialist Party remained open to cooperation with other political formations, provided such cooperation was grounded in transparency and mutual respect. He said alliances should serve the interests of voters rather than internal power struggles.

The statement also highlights wider concerns about opposition preparedness as the 2026 elections draw closer. Analysts have pointed to the risk that prolonged internal disagreements could erode public confidence in opposition parties’ ability to offer effective governance alternatives.

While the ruling party continues to consolidate its position, opposition formations face pressure to demonstrate unity and organisational coherence. Dr Musumali said failure to address internal weaknesses would leave opposition parties vulnerable, regardless of popular dissatisfaction with government performance.

He said the Socialist Party’s position was guided by the need to maintain political relevance and to provide voters with clear choices. He said uncertainty within major alliances required smaller parties to assess their strategic options carefully.

The People’s Pact, he said, remained available as one such option, should circumstances require a shift in opposition cooperation arrangements.

A pressure group based in South Africa has appealed to the family of the late former Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu to withdraw a court case relating to his burial arrangements, stating that continued litigation risks delaying closure for the family, supporters, and the wider public.

The appeal follows ongoing legal proceedings in South Africa concerning the burial of Lungu, who died while receiving medical attention outside Zambia. The case has attracted public attention in both Zambia and South Africa, given Lungu’s status as a former head of state and the sensitivities surrounding burial rites, family wishes, and national considerations.

In a statement, the pressure group said it was calling on the Lungu family to reconsider the legal route and explore alternative ways of resolving the matter. The group stated that prolonged court action could complicate an already emotional situation and extend uncertainty around burial arrangements.

The group emphasised that burial matters are deeply personal and cultural, but noted that disputes involving cross-border legal processes often take time to resolve due to jurisdictional and procedural requirements. It said this could result in extended delays before a final decision is reached.

According to the group, the ongoing legal proceedings risk diverting attention from mourning and remembrance, while also creating uncertainty for those wishing to pay their respects. The group said withdrawal of the case would allow space for dialogue and resolution outside the courtroom.

The burial dispute is currently before South African courts, with the Lungu family pursuing legal action to assert its position on burial arrangements. Legal representatives for the family have maintained that the matter requires judicial determination, citing concerns they believe warrant court intervention.

The South African pressure group stated that it was not seeking to undermine the family’s rights, but was instead urging consideration of the broader implications of prolonged litigation. It said burial disputes involving prominent figures often benefit from mediation or negotiated settlement rather than extended court processes.

Legal experts note that burial disputes can raise complex questions involving family law, customary practices, and jurisdiction, particularly when death occurs outside the deceased’s home country. In such cases, courts are often asked to balance family wishes with legal frameworks governing burial and repatriation.

The group stated that its appeal was motivated by a desire for closure and respect for the deceased. It said that continued litigation could deepen divisions and prolong uncertainty, while a negotiated resolution could allow burial arrangements to proceed without further delay.

In Zambia, the burial of former presidents carries national significance, often involving state participation and public ceremonies. The dispute has therefore attracted attention beyond the immediate family, with many Zambians closely following developments.

The pressure group did not indicate whether it had engaged directly with the Lungu family or their legal representatives, but said it hoped its appeal would encourage reflection on the consequences of continued court action.

The family has not publicly responded to the appeal. Legal proceedings remain ongoing, and no ruling has yet been delivered by the South African courts.

Observers note that the outcome of the case will determine the next steps in the burial process, including whether arrangements can proceed in accordance with the family’s wishes or whether alternative approaches will be adopted following judicial guidance.

NHP Questions ECZ Data Ahead of 2026 Elections

The New Heritage Party has raised concerns over the credibility of Zambia’s electoral process, citing what it describes as a significant discrepancy in voter registration figures released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

In a statement, party president Chishala Kateka stated that her party believes the ECZ is compromised and may not be able to deliver transparent, credible, free, and fair elections if unresolved issues surrounding voter data persist.

Kateka said the NHP has, since the last general election, repeatedly raised concerns regarding the composition and conduct of the ECZ. She stated that these concerns were communicated through multiple channels, including public statements, correspondence with the Zambia Centre for Inter Party Dialogue, engagements with the Minister of Justice, and a direct meeting with ECZ officials. According to Kateka, none of these engagements produced corrective action.

She said the party’s latest concerns stem from inconsistencies between voter registration figures announced publicly by the ECZ and figures later published in official ECZ documentation.

Kateka referred to a speech titled Update on Final Statistics of the Mass Registration of Voters, delivered by ECZ Chief Executive Officer Brown Kasaro. She stated that provisional figures presented on page six of that speech indicated that Zambia had 8,861,918 registered voters.

According to Kateka, this figure has since been used by opposition political parties, analysts, and members of the public for electoral projections and broader assessments of the electoral landscape ahead of the 2026 General Elections.

She said that a separate document published on the ECZ website, titled Registered Voters per Polling Station, reflects a substantially lower figure of 7,073,513 registered voters nationwide.

Kateka stated that the difference between the two figures amounts to 1,788,405 voters, representing a 25.28 percent variance. She said that even allowing for the provisional nature of the earlier figure, the size of the discrepancy is significant and warrants explanation.

She questioned why such a substantial variance had not been publicly addressed by ECZ leadership and why no clarification or correction had been issued following the publication of the detailed polling station data.

Among the issues raised by the NHP are requests for an explanation of how the discrepancy arose, why the ECZ chief executive officer has not publicly accounted for the difference, and whether the commission intended to reconcile or correct the figures without external prompting.

Kateka further questioned how the ECZ would have handled the discrepancy had opposition parties not identified it. She suggested that unexplained voter figure differences of that magnitude could influence electoral outcomes if left unresolved.

In her statement, Kateka called on opposition political parties to shift focus toward what she described as systemic risks to Zambia’s democratic process. She urged opposition parties to pool resources, maintain vigilance, and coordinate efforts aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the vote.

She warned that electoral outcomes could be influenced long before polling day through administrative and statistical processes, stating that elections could be effectively decided prior to the casting of ballots if such issues remain unchecked.

Kateka questionined how opposition parties would be expected to compete fairly if a discrepancy of more than 1.7 million voters were embedded within official electoral data.

Access Bank Zambia has confirmed the disbursement of more than K3 billion to 311,000 farmers under the Government’s Farmer Input Support Programme payment framework administered through the Food Reserve Agency.

The bank stated that the payments were processed across its branch network following coordination with the FRA and relevant government authorities to ensure timely settlement to beneficiaries. According to the bank, extended operating hours were implemented to manage volumes and reduce congestion during the peak payment period.

Access Bank said it adjusted weekday and weekend hours at selected branches to accommodate farmers, particularly in high-traffic agricultural regions. The bank added that payment schedules were aligned with lists provided by the FRA to ensure that farmers who delivered maize received funds within agreed timelines.

Officials indicated that internal systems were reinforced to handle transaction volumes efficiently while maintaining audit controls and reconciliation standards. The bank stated that verification processes were applied to confirm beneficiary identities and payment accuracy.

The FRA has relied on commercial banks to process payments following maize purchases, with the objective of supporting liquidity for small-scale and commercial farmers. Access Bank said the payment programme formed part of its broader participation in government-supported agricultural financing and service delivery.

Farmers in several districts reported receipt of funds through Access Bank branches, with some indicating that extended hours reduced waiting times. The bank said it continued to engage local authorities and farmer representatives to address operational challenges as they arose.

Access Bank reiterated its commitment to transparency, stating that payment records are subject to internal and external review in line with banking regulations. The bank added that it remains available to address queries from farmers regarding payment status through branch channels.

Kapyanga Defends Mundubile Amid PF Leadership Dispute

Member of Parliament for Mpika Constituency Francis Robert Kapyanga has issued a detailed public statement defending Brian Mundubile and rejecting assertions that the late former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu bears responsibility for the ongoing leadership turmoil within the Patriotic Front.

In the statement, Kapyanga responds to claims circulating within party discourse that Lungu failed to designate a successor before stepping back from active leadership, a situation some party figures have cited as contributing to current divisions. Kapyanga describes that position as inaccurate and unfair, stating that Lungu had expressed a clear preference for party unity and had taken steps to guide leadership succession following the 2021 General Elections.

According to Kapyanga, internal tensions within the PF began well before the loss of power in 2021. He states that during Lungu’s final term in office, certain senior figures openly challenged his authority, undermined his leadership, and publicly opposed him, actions that he says weakened internal cohesion and contributed to electoral defeat.

After the election loss, Kapyanga recounts that criticism of Lungu intensified, with some party members attributing the outcome directly to him. He states that this environment led Lungu to step down as PF president and retire from active politics, despite resistance from members of the party’s Central Committee. During that transitional period, Lungu appointed individuals to act in leadership positions while the party sought to stabilise.

Kapyanga provides a specific account of events in early 2022, stating that while Parliament was in session, Mundubile received a call from Lungu inviting him to a meeting at his government-rented retirement residence in Ibex. During that meeting, Kapyanga says Lungu instructed Mundubile to contest the PF presidency, citing their working relationship and Mundubile’s commitment to the party.

He states that Mundubile did not immediately disclose the instruction and had not previously expressed ambitions to lead the party or to contest the presidency of the Republic. At the time, according to Kapyanga, Mundubile’s focus remained on his parliamentary responsibilities and eventual retirement from politics.

Kapyanga further states that Lungu subsequently contacted several trusted party members, including himself, and directed them to support Mundubile’s bid for the PF presidency. He says efforts were then made to mobilise support, assemble campaign structures, and prepare for an internal contest.

However, Kapyanga states that resistance emerged from individuals he describes as having previously opposed Lungu while he was in office. He alleges that these figures conveyed false information to Lungu, including claims that Mundubile was secretly engaging with President Hakainde Hichilema through family connections, funding attacks against Lungu, and pursuing other undisclosed agendas. Kapyanga states that Mundubile did not respond publicly to these allegations.

According to Kapyanga, when these claims failed to gain traction, attention shifted toward encouraging Lungu to return to active politics. He links this development to events surrounding Miles Sampa, whose assumption of control within the PF followed the cancellation of a conference and his suspension by an acting party president. Kapyanga states that this period marked a significant compromise of party structures.

Kapyanga recounts that when Lungu later engaged in broader opposition cooperation through the United Kwacha Alliance, some of the same individuals opposed the initiative and subjected Lungu to public attacks. He says this led to Lungu’s withdrawal from the alliance and the subsequent formation of the Tonse Alliance.

Throughout these developments, Kapyanga maintains that accusations against Mundubile continued, including allegations related to judicial interference in Lungu’s eligibility case and associations with political activist Chilufya Tayali. He rejects those claims and states that Lungu himself instructed party members to assist Tayali during legal difficulties.

Kapyanga states that following Lungu’s return to active politics, Mundubile halted his own activities and instructed his supporters to mobilise in support of Lungu. He says this was done in line with Lungu’s authority and wishes at the time.

With Lungu’s death, Kapyanga states that continued references to his name in internal disputes are inappropriate. He calls on party leaders to take responsibility for current decisions and to pursue unity through established constitutional processes, including convening a party conference to elect new leadership.