A word to my traditional cousin Ezra Tembo

A word to my traditional cousin Ezra Tembo After a long time, I have decided to pen this to Ezra Tembo today. I know that some people may misunderstand what I am about to write, but I just can’t keep bottling this. My cousin Ezra Tembo, today you have turned against the former…

A word to my traditional cousin Ezra Tembo

After a long time, I have decided to pen this to Ezra Tembo today. I know that some people may misunderstand what I am about to write, but I just can’t keep bottling this.

My cousin Ezra Tembo, today you have turned against the former members of the PF who largely formed the Tonse Pamodzi alliance, which chose NRPUP and RP to be the special purpose vehicles to contest and participate in the August 2026 general election. I don’t need to expound on this, because you of all people know what our members and the majority of Zambians went through after PF was stolen.

We the members accepted to be part of the said SPVs because of our two leaders, President Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, who gave us this directive. No one knew about the NRPUP and RP before our two leaders selected the two parties.

However, we accepted the challenge of selling the unpopular small political parties. Some members travelled the whole country using their personal resources just to introduce the INYALI and the ICHOLA to Zambians. We appeared on radio and TV programmes to campaign for our people. This was done at great cost. Mostly, personal resources were used. This you know.

Zambians accepted the INYALI and ICHOLA overwhelmingly because of the popularity of our two Presidents, Hon Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu. We worked tirelessly and, in less than three months, the INYALI and ICHOLA were known and trusted by the majority of Zambians.

Many members suffered injuries during the campaign. Many were arrested. Many used their personal resources that could have been enjoyed by their families. Enemies were created during the campaign. Many were insulted because of the two SPVs.

All those sacrifices were undertaken because we thought some of us, and many others, could have been recognised by the party after the election.

My cousin Ezra Tembo, how do you sleep knowing that you have betrayed the majority of Zambians who made your unpopular NRPUP known to the Zambians?

Let me take this opportunity to take you back to 2021, when the PF lost elections to the UPND. I will specifically speak about the district where I come from. The district is Mufulira.

Most of the members who were on the structures before 2021 resigned and abandoned the PF because of fear. Cousin Ezra Tembo, do you know what some of us went through to ensure that the party remained intact in the district? We picked up the responsibility to protect the party and its members during that difficult period.

Kindly replay the national events that PF participated in from 2022 to 2026. PF always outshone the UPND in those events. I am proud to say that I was part of the organisers of those crowds.

The party was intact in Mufulira district because we had fearless leaders in Mufulira district. I have been the district youth chairman for the district, and you cannot talk about the strength of the party in Mufulira district without mentioning my name.

Mufulira has produced MPs, a mayor and councillors on ICHOLA WETATA and ILAMPI. This success is a result of the commitment and exemplary leadership in Mufulira district.

Do you know what we went through when Miles Sampa hijacked the PF? Do you know what we went through to defend the party in the district?

Councillors were about to lose their seats because Miles Sampa wanted to prove a point. I personally challenged Miles Sampa on a live radio programme, where he fumbled and insulted me live on radio. We stood our ground, and Miles Sampa failed to destroy the party in Mufulira district.

Some of us contributed immensely to keep the membership of the party intact. We assured our people that PF would participate in the 2026 election.

The people of Mufulira demanded that we give them a leader and the SPV. Is this what you have given to Mufulira and Zambia in general?

Even when some people lost hope, some of us stood our ground, and surely we deserve better.

I am very sure that, had you respected our Presidents, Hon Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, in selecting the representatives for Proportional Representation, our two Presidents could have considered our district, Mufulira. How can you honestly sleep well knowing that you have hurt and disappointed many?

Has it occurred to you that NRPUP and RP are what they are today because of our two Presidents?

I personally can’t give you a chance of being the Republican President, not to talk of having the MPs, mayors and councillors that you claim to control in NRPUP today.

Zambians voted for ILAMPI and ICHOLA because of Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu. We campaigned not because of you personally. We campaigned for the two SPVs because of our two leaders.

Cousin Ezra Tembo, let me remind you of the problems that the party suffered when NRPUP and RP were introduced to us. The party was cut into two. We became like enemies, especially here on the Copperbelt.

After all this, my Mbuya, you have decided to betray us, the ones who kept the same members that today you claim to inherit.

Why have you chosen to make our loyal members go through and relive the torture they went through when Miles Sampa did what you have done today? How different are you from Miles Sampa and Chabinga? Was this your plan all along?

Mbuya, betrayal has consequences. You can’t treat God’s people like this.

Zambians, including myself, are disappointed in you, cousin. People are not saying good things about you, Mbuya, believe me.

God created everything on earth just by His word. The tongue, Mbuya, is the most powerful tool. People should not be speaking bad things about you. Iwe wafuma kubantu. I am sure you understand what I am talking about.

It’s not too late, my cousin. You can still make things right.

God bless Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu.

God bless us all.

By Nachilima Cleo Chisala