222 Views LUSAKA – Citizens First (CF) president and presidential candidate Harry Kalaba has lost his running mate, Moses Mawere, who has officially left the party to join the opposition Tonse Alliance, becoming the second presidential running mate in the 2026 general election to step down before polling day. Kalaba confirmed Mawere’s departure in a […]

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Moses Mawere with Kalaba

LUSAKA – Citizens First (CF) president and presidential candidate Harry Kalaba has lost his running mate, Moses Mawere, who has officially left the party to join the opposition Tonse Alliance, becoming the second presidential running mate in the 2026 general election to step down before polling day.

Kalaba confirmed Mawere’s departure in a statement issued Friday, saying the party respected his decision despite wishing he had remained part of the Citizens First presidential ticket.

“Citizens First is founded on the principles of democracy, freedom of association, and respect for the right of every individual to make their own political choices. It is in this spirit that I acknowledge the decision of my Running Mate, Hon. Moses Mawere, and Hon. Chishimba Kambwili to join colleagues in the Tonse Alliance,” Kalaba said.

He thanked both leaders for their contribution to the party and wished them well in their future political endeavours.

“While we would have preferred to continue this journey together under the Citizens First banner, we respect their decision and wish them well in their future political endeavours. We thank them for their contributions to our movement and release them with our blessings and best wishes,” he added.

Kalaba said the departure of the two senior officials would not derail Citizens First’s mission, insisting the party remained committed to providing principled leadership.

“Our mission remains unchanged. We remain firmly committed to building a united, prosperous and corruption-free Zambia founded on integrity, accountability, transparency, non-violence and servant leadership,” he said.

Kambwili with Makebi and Mundubile at the Tonse Pamodzu Alliance

Kambwili with Kalana

Mawere’s exit comes just days after veteran politician Chishimba Kambwili, who is contesting as a Citizens First parliamentary candidate, also publicly joined the campaign trail of Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu.

The latest development adds to a growing list of opposition leaders and candidates who have shifted their support to the Tonse Alliance ahead of the 13 August general elections, reflecting the ongoing realignments within Zambia’s opposition.

It also raises questions over the status of the Citizens First presidential ticket.

On Thursday, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) indicated that candidates who withdraw after 6 July, the deadline provided under the electoral timetable, will still remain on the ballot paper, as the nomination process has already been concluded. However, the Commission has not yet issued detailed guidance on the legal and practical implications of a presidential running mate resigning after nominations have closed.

The situation leaves uncertainty over whether Mawere’s name will remain on the ballot alongside Kalaba’s despite his decision to leave the party.

Political analysts say the resignation is another setback for Kalaba’s campaign at a time when several opposition parties are consolidating behind the Tonse Alliance in an effort to mount a stronger challenge against the ruling UPND in next month’s elections.

The Citizens First leader, however, maintained that his party would continue campaigning across the country, thanking members and supporters for what he described as their unwavering commitment to the party’s vision.

The 2026 presidential race has increasingly been characterised by shifting alliances and high-profile defections, with several opposition figures abandoning individual campaigns to back candidates they believe stand a stronger chance of unseating incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema.