Tonse Alliance slams toxic politics, urges Hichilema to unite Zambia

1 Views The Tonse Pamodzi Alliance has blasted the conduct of the 2026 election campaigns and warned that Zambia is deeply wounded, calling on President Hakainde Hichilema to lead a national healing process. In a hard-hitting statement this morning, Tonse Alliance Secretary General Celestin Mukandila said the country witnessed “inflammatory statements and unacceptable actions” that […]

1 Views

The Tonse Pamodzi Alliance has blasted the conduct of the 2026 election campaigns and warned that Zambia is deeply wounded, calling on President Hakainde Hichilema to lead a national healing process.

In a hard-hitting statement this morning, Tonse Alliance Secretary General Celestin Mukandila said the country witnessed “inflammatory statements and unacceptable actions” that must never be normalized.

“My Fellow Citizens,
We have witnessed one of the most rigorous and consequential elections in our nation’s history. Regardless of our political affiliations, Zambia must remain a united, multiparty, indivisible and unitary democratic state that upholds constitutional order, the rule of law and democratic values,” Mukandila stated.

“I must hasten to emphasise that our nation requires healing now more than ever. My experience during this campaign trail has taught me that there is an urgent need for us to reflect on how we conduct our politics and how we relate to one another as citizens,” he said.

Mukandila accused political players of abandoning issue-based debate for “slander, malice, personal attacks and intimidation,” and demanded a clean-up of political discourse.

“We must, therefore, sanitise the way politics is conducted in our country. I have always advocated for a political culture founded on the competition of ideas, policies and visions for our nation, not one characterised by slander, malice, personal attacks and intimidation,” he stated.

The Alliance SG also put the new government on notice, reminding it that authority comes from citizens and must be checked.

“To the Government and those entrusted with the responsibility of governing our nation, I wish to remind you that political power is vested in you by the people. That mandate must always be exercised within the confines of our Constitution and in the best interests of the Zambian people,” Mukandila said.
“There is a pressing need to strengthen the rule of law, constitutionalism, accountability and good governance. Our institutions must remain strong, independent and capable of protecting the rights and freedoms of every citizen.”

He mourned victims of political violence and called for calm among Tonse supporters as the party awaits “further guidance and the appropriate constitutional processes” following the defeat of its presidential candidate Brian Mundubile.

“We also remember with deep sorrow the families of those who have lost their loved ones as a result of political violence. May the Almighty God comfort and strengthen them,” he said.

“I further call for calm, peace and restraint among all citizens and supporters of the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, its presidential candidate, President Brian Mundubile, and his running mate, Hon. Makebi Zulu.”

In a direct message to State House, Mukandila told President Hichilema that unity must come first.

“To President Hakainde S. Hichilema, my advice is that this nation requires healing. We must heal from the wounds of the past as well as those created in the present. Our collective responsibility to Zambia must be discharged with patriotism, humility, tolerance and love for one another,” he declared.

“Let us choose dialogue over confrontation, ideas over insults, tolerance over intolerance, and unity over division. May God bless our great Republic of Zambia. One Zambia, One Nation.”