148 Views Rising slowly, the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile’s campaign strategy is gaining momentum with each outing. Citizens are thronging his campaigns in huge numbers wherever he goes, leaving many wondering what ‘sin’ would President Hakainde Hichilema have committed to anger Zambians that much. Political watchers are […]

148 Views

Rising slowly, the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile’s campaign strategy is gaining momentum with each outing.

Citizens are thronging his campaigns in huge numbers wherever he goes, leaving many wondering what ‘sin’ would President Hakainde Hichilema have committed to anger Zambians that much.

Political watchers are on record alleging that ‘if one sees’ citizens thronging opposition rallies in huge numbers, it would mean they are not happy with the incumbent government.

Apparently, others say President Hichilema’s major undoing is the cost of living.

The cost of meeting basic needs for an average family of five in Lusaka has increased by K349.50 over the past year, rising from K11,763.38 in June 2025 to K12,112.88 in June 2026, according to the latest Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) released by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR).

JCTR Social & Economic Development Programme Officer Lombe Kasanda says although the basket declined slightly by K47.66 between May and June 2026, it has increased by K747.88 since January, reflecting the continued rise in the cost of living.

He says this comes despite improvements in Zambia’s macroeconomic fundamentals, including lower inflation, a stronger Kwacha, progress in external debt restructuring, and improved agricultural output.

The organisation notes that rising prices of essential items such as charcoal, kapenta, vegetables and tomatoes continue to place significant pressure on household budgets, particularly for low-income families, highlighting that the benefits of macroeconomic stability have yet to be fully felt at household level.

President Hichilema himself has on different platforms admitted that the cost of living that citizens are forced to contend with is a cause for worry.

Most recently, Hichilema stirred debate after he acknowledged public anger over the cost of living, saying hunger is the fastest way to spark national unrest.

“If you want trouble in the country, let the citizens go hungry, and trouble will come quickly,” President Hichilema said.

The President made the remarks as he addressed the current economic pressure facing households, admitting that Zambians are upset with his government over rising prices of mealie meal, fuel and other essentials.

He said his administration understands the frustration on the ground and that food security remains central to peace and stability.

“When people cannot put food on the table, no policy, no speech will calm them. That is why we are treating the cost of living as an emergency,” he said.

President Hichilema pointed to government interventions in agriculture, social protection and targeted subsidies as part of efforts to cushion citizens. He added that stabilizing food prices and increasing local production were key to avoiding the kind of trouble he warned about.

“Zambians are angry, and they have a right to be. But we are also working. We cannot build a stable country on an empty stomach,” the President said.

The remarks come weeks ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Election, with the cost of living expected to be a major campaign issue.

Opposition parties have in recent weeks intensified criticism of government over the price of mealie meal and fuel, while government has blamed external shocks, debt servicing and climate change for the economic squeeze.

President Hichilema urged citizens to remain patient, saying government was committed to “turning the economy around so that no Zambian goes to bed hungry.”

Apparently, Mundubile has told Mkushi residents that a government under him will scrap political patronage and recruit public workers based on merit.

Addressing a charged crowd during a campaign stop in Mkushi on Tuesday, Mundubile said the current practice of using a “database” to hire party cadres has failed Zambians and must be discarded.

“We are throwing the database to the wind,” Mundubile declared to ululations. “When we form government after 13th August, jobs will go to those with qualifications, skills and experience. Not because you know someone in Lusaka.”

He argued that merit-based recruitment will restore dignity, professionalism and efficiency in the civil service, health, education and security sectors.

“Our young people have degrees, diplomas and certificates but they are being ignored because their names are not on a list. That ends with NRPUP,” he said. “We want teachers in classrooms, nurses in clinics, and engineers on projects — not people appointed because of their surname or which district they come from.”

Mundubile linked the promise to his broader message of national unity, telling the crowd that Zambia must be “one people, one nation, one tribe.” He said regionalism and cadre recruitment have divided communities and weakened service delivery.

The NRPUP leader also pledged to revive agriculture in Central Province through subsidized inputs for small-scale farmers, whom he said are “being ignored by the current government.”

His running mate, Makebi Zulu, backed the merit pledge and urged Mkushi voters to give Mundubile a chance.

“Vote for my older brother President Mundubile because he knows how to get the job done. He has run government before and he understands how to create opportunities for you,” Zulu said.

The Mkushi rally was part of NRPUP’s Central Province tour ahead of the August 13 General Election. Mundubile also repeated his call for peace, condemning political violence and asking President Hakainde Hichilema to publicly speak against it.

With 23 days to go to polls, Mundubile is positioning himself as the “fresh alternative” to the incumbent, banking on youth empowerment, jobs.