NRP-UP withdraws from Tonse Pamodzi Alliance amid uncertainty over election petition

39 Views LUSAKA, Zambia — The NRP-UP has withdrawn from the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, a move that could have significant implications for the opposition alliance’s political future and its pending challenge to the outcome of Zambia’s presidential election. NRP-UP Secretary General Nonde Mubanga announced the decision at a media briefing on Sunday evening, saying it […]

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Nonde Mubanga

LUSAKA, Zambia — The NRP-UP has withdrawn from the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, a move that could have significant implications for the opposition alliance’s political future and its pending challenge to the outcome of Zambia’s presidential election.

NRP-UP Secretary General Nonde Mubanga announced the decision at a media briefing on Sunday evening, saying it had been taken after careful consideration.

The development comes at a particularly sensitive time for the alliance, which contested the election through NRP-UP, the political vehicle used by presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu.

NRP-UP is also reported to have secured 60 parliamentary seats, making the party a significant force in the newly elected National Assembly.

The withdrawal raises questions about the future of the alliance’s planned legal challenge to the election results and whether the development could affect the political and legal position of MPs elected under the NRP-UP banner.

The uncertainty has been compounded by differing positions within the party following the election. While members of the alliance have been pushing for a presidential petition, NRP-UP recently congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema on his victory.

Party president Ezra Tembo, who was elected to Parliament, has also sought to draw a distinction between the party leadership and the presidential candidacy, reportedly saying that Mundubile was a candidate while he remains the party president.

The Resolute Party, another component of the alliance, is reported to have won five parliamentary seats.

It is not immediately clear how the 60 NRP-UP MPs will respond to Sunday’s announcement or whether they will continue to identify themselves with the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance.

The question is particularly significant because some opposition members are reportedly in hiding amid a security crackdown linked to accusations of militia activity. President Hichilema has also threatened to deregister NRP-UP.

The alliance has accused the ruling UPND of attempting to destabilise NRP-UP and the Resolute Party in order to weaken the opposition and frustrate its planned election petition. Alliance spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba has maintained that Tonse Pamodzi remains united under Mundubile and Zulu despite what he described as infiltration.

The withdrawal therefore leaves the opposition alliance facing a potentially consequential internal rupture at a time when the legal window for challenging the election outcome is critical.

Mundubile has not publicly commented on the latest development. He remains with Makebi Zulu at the United Nations building in Lusaka, where the two have sought refuge following the death of their ally and former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya.

Kafwaya was shot dead during a security operation at Mundubile’s residence, according to accounts from the opposition, an incident that has further intensified tensions surrounding the post-election period.

The Commonwealth has since called for a transparent investigation into Kafwaya’s death and expressed concern over alleged arbitrary arrests and the detention of people for political reasons.

Against this backdrop, the NRP-UP withdrawal could test the cohesion of Zambia’s main opposition alliance at precisely the moment it is seeking to mount a legal and political challenge to the election outcome.

The immediate questions are whether the withdrawal is a final break with Tonse Pamodzi, whether the alliance can continue under Mundubile and Zulu, and how MPs elected on the NRP-UP ticket will position themselves as the political confrontation enters its next phase.