“Sorry Zambia for bringing you Hichilema,” Major Chizyuka says as he endorses Mundubile

Veteran politician Syache Madyekuku, a former Cabinet Minister under President Frederick Chiluba and former Member of Parliament for Sinazongwe, also endorsed Mundubile during the virtual rally.

Madyekuku was among political figures who played a role in the political developments that eventually saw Hichilema take over the UPND leadership in 2006.

His endorsement of Mundubile adds another veteran political voice from Southern Province to the NRP-UP campaign, which has been attempting to break the UPND’s traditional dominance in the province.

Businessman and Cuundu Culture Chairman Innocent Matyola also endorsed the Mundubile-Makebi ticket.

Matyola appealed to voters in Southern Province to “move with the rest of the country”, arguing that the province should not remain politically isolated.

He accused the current leadership of benefiting Hichilema and a small group of people at the expense of ordinary UPND members and the wider population.

Mundubile promises to “reset” Zambia

During the virtual engagement, Mundubile used the platform to reiterate his central campaign message that Zambia needs a political and economic reset.

The NRP-UP candidate has been campaigning on a promise to change the way government operates, saying his administration would focus on creating opportunities for ordinary Zambians rather than concentrating wealth and opportunities among a small group of people.

Mundubile has repeatedly promised reforms in agriculture, mining, education and employment.

In agriculture, he has pledged to address challenges affecting farmers, including delays in the purchase and payment for maize. He has also promised investment in maize dryers to deal with moisture-content challenges that have previously delayed marketing.

On education, Mundubile has promised what he describes as genuinely free education, including the provision of uniforms and books, while reducing overcrowding in classrooms.

He has also pledged to maintain and increase student meal allowances in line with the cost of living and address accommodation challenges at higher learning institutions.

His mining agenda has been particularly prominent in his campaign, with Mundubile promising greater participation by local communities in the country’s mineral wealth and reforms intended to ensure that mining communities benefit directly from resources extracted from their areas.

He has also promised to formalise small-scale and informal mining and provide young people with equipment, training and access to financing.

The Mundubile campaign has also repeatedly promised to eliminate political cadreism from government and separate the civil service from partisan politics.

The NRP-UP candidate is backed by the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, which has presented him as the main challenger to incumbent President Hichilema.

The virtual rally comes as the election campaign enters its final days, with political parties intensifying their efforts to mobilise voters across the country.

For the Mundubile campaign, securing endorsements from veteran figures associated with the UPND is particularly significant as it seeks to make inroads into Southern Province, traditionally regarded as one of Hichilema’s strongest political bases.

Chizyuka’s apology and endorsement therefore carries both political and symbolic weight, coming from a figure who was part of the political movement that helped establish the UPND and played a role in the party’s leadership transition nearly two decades ago.