12 Reasons Why HH & BM Must Heal This Divided, Hostile & Unhappy Republic After This “Authoritative UPND Political Conquest” – Chris Zumani

12 Reasons Why HH & BM Must Heal This Divided, Hostile & Unhappy Republic After This “Authoritative UPND Political Conquest” By Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba 1. When I proposed of an inclusive government of national unity last Sunday regardless of the winner between HH and BM, I meant it from my heart because as a […]

12 Reasons Why HH & BM Must Heal This Divided, Hostile & Unhappy Republic After This “Authoritative UPND Political Conquest”

By Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba

1. When I proposed of an inclusive government of national unity last Sunday regardless of the winner between HH and BM, I meant it from my heart because as a Political Scientist, l am trained at certificate, bachelors, masters and PhD levels to critically analyze societal conflicts, foster stakeholders mediation and dispute settlements by proposing workable policy solutions.

2. This August 2026 presidential election will remain notoriously divisive and problematic for multiple reasons. Even ECZ has made history for itself! But when nations are divided and politically broken as I see Zambia today, political leaders must seek to put their interests aside and prioritize what is good for the country and their people. HH and BM now face this reality as we speak.

3. Imagine HH touring to Southern, Western or Copperbelt provinces with BM as his Second Vice President or Prime Minister in a UPND TONSE unity government? Think of BM standing on the same platform with HH as comrades and political brothers in Muchinga, Northern, Luapula or North Western provinces? This is where and how we foster political reconciliation, national unity and heal divided or broken societies.

4. Following such a divisive election, the winner must choose to rule with the loser and the loser and accept to support the winner. Such recommendations may not please both HH and BM but these are workable strategies in dispute settlement, peace building and conflict resolution globally. Such political interventions are not designed to make HH or BM happy, but to unite and heal the divided nation.

5. Regardless of how we feel about these controversial and divisive August results, the naked reality is that ECZ declared HH as the eventual winner and as NRPUP Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, we unfortunately lost it. Legally, HH is our 8th President for the next 5 years. It is a notorious fact, a painful reality we must face and accept if we love Zambia.

6. Today, President HH has a bigger responsibility of demonstrating political tolerance, appeal for national unity, citizen brotherhood and political reconciliation with BM, Tonse Pamodzi alliance and the opposition in general. HH will win more citizens confidence and public trust if he emerges as a Nelson Mandela of Zambia by preaching and acting for national unity and reconciliation. He may not like it but it’s a necessary political gesture now.

7. To show a fatherly face, HH must call for cease fire for UPND supporters and members who are harassing, insulting and threatening NRPUP Tonse Pamodzi members of BM and MZ. The President must resign as a national leader, not a sectarian ruler or partisan UPND politician. Under such circumstances of divisions and hostility, HH has an opportunity to emerge as the unifying leader and statesman by taking BM as a brother in politics.

8. This statesman posture applies to my leader, BM himself: he must painfully concede defeat and call for peace and unity. In 2008, President Micheal Sata painfully conceded defeat to Rupiah Banda and called for peace, unity and calmness among PF members countrywide. This mind is crucial for us as national leaders both in UPND and Tonse Pamodzi alliance if we cherish to preserve sovereign peace, citizens unity, national reconciliation and oneness.

9. Us as Tonse NRPUP team led by BM emerged from either ashes or nowhere this year amidst claims of a dead opposition. As a vibrant revolutionary BM and Tonse NRPUP alliance, we were so determined to win and we adequately prepared to compete and win this democratic election. All parameters pointed to this fact in most provinces when we started our campaigns.

10. When the UPND team led by HH sensed real danger, they suddenly responded with force of state power resulting in BM NRPUP rallies being physically blocked in some parts of Copperbelt, North Western and Western Provinces. Out of fear,  we even avoided to enter any part of Southern Province. This reality posed a serious challenge to us NRPUP Tonse Pamodzi alliance.

11. When NRPUP Tonse Pamodzi started to mobilize financial donations online and masses responded positively, this fundraising was brutally clashed and sunk. When more well wishers donated funds for NRPUP polling agents to protect our votes, DEC seized the money, more than K7 million. So, NRPUP and BM entered the voting day with serious financial difficulties. This was a political sabotage as we were financially weakened in all fronts. The actual ECZ counting and announcement of results was another nightmare for us.

12. While we as NRPUP prepared for free, fair and democratic elections, UPND prepared for an authoritarian political conquest to bash and clash any competition based on incumbency advantage. On face value, their strategy looks politically unceremonious but it was their survival plan which has delivered and secured them victory.  Even when we disagree with the ECZ on the how and why questions, HH is our declared winner and a President elect for Zambia.

In conclusion, the same fact remains notorious true. If you asked me, I will say that technically, there was no free, fair & transparent competition during both campaigns, elections and counting of results for BM’s NRPUP. But legally and politically, the winner is only HH here because he was declared so by ECZ based on the mathematical evidence of the voter numbers. If others or the alliance want to petition, let them do so by starting from the legal reality accepting the winner as announced by ECZ. Let’s pray for HH and BM during these difficult times!

Dr. Chris ZUMANI Zimba is a Political Scientist, Tonse Alliance Architect and Secretary General as well as NRPUP Chief Presidential Advisor. He was Political Advisor to late Former President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu from 2019 to 2025. He holds a certificate, bachelors, masters and PhD in Political Science.