Zambia : Binwell Mpundu Apologises Over "ready To Kill" Remarks As UPND And Church Condemn Video

Tonse Alliance Presidential Affairs Chairman Binwell Mpundu has apologised after a video circulated showing him saying he was “ready to die” and “ready to kill” over the outcome of Thursday’s general election, following days of condemnation from the ruling party, the Church and civil society.

Mpundu made the remarks in a video posted to his Facebook page on Sunday, before deleting it hours later and issuing a follow-up statement claiming his social media account had been hacked and the footage was artificial intelligence.

By Monday, he had shifted his explanation again, telling reporters at a media briefing that the statement was genuine but had been taken out of context. He said the words were meant as an expression of personal conviction rather than a threat against anyone.

“The truth is this is the statement I made. Believe me, to err is human and sometimes you put words in a place that should not be. But this statement is as simple as it should have ever been from where I come from,” Mpundu said.

He compared the remarks to a parent declaring willingness to die for their children, arguing that such language reflects devotion rather than intent to harm. “I made a statement in which I said I am ready to die from my country, I am ready to die for these elections. The statement I am ready to kill is more of a self-defence statement,” he said.

Mpundu likened his position to that of soldiers who accept mortal risk in service of a cause. “Soldiers for example sign up to die. What we’ve not been told is they also sign up to kill. So ready to die, ready to kill is more of a self-defence statement,” he said.

He further apologised, saying he was human and a leader, and insisted the remarks were never meant to suggest wrongdoing. “That statement doesn’t in anyway suggest I am willing to or I am committing a crime. It’s the literal statement that means I am ready to die for what I hold dear and I am ready to push away that which threatens what I hold dear,” he said.

The apology followed sharp criticism from across the political and religious spectrum. UPND Secretary-General Batuke Imenda said no political position was worth the life of a single Zambian, describing elections as a celebration of democracy rather than a contest to be settled through fear.

“Elections are not war or a death sentence for anyone. Elections are a celebration of democracy,” Imenda said, urging Mpundu to retract the statement and calling on political cadres across the divide to uphold peace during the campaign’s closing days.

Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana also condemned the remarks, saying they were careless and risked alarming citizens into believing violence was an acceptable response to an electoral outcome.

“We call on law-enforcement agencies to ensure such people are brought before the law and they are taken care of as prescribed by the law. This is just an election,” Kawana said.

Catholic bishops, in separate homilies delivered in Eastern, Southern and Copperbelt provinces on Sunday, warned that no political office or electoral grievance could ever justify aggression, intimidation or bloodshed, and urged political leaders to condemn violence among their own supporters rather than excuse it.

The UPND also raised concern over an earlier claim attributed to Mpundu, in which he was said to have suggested that NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile had taken mercenaries outside the country for military training. Imenda described the confession as troubling evidence of interference in the electoral process.

Mpundu, in his own defence, said the backlash had exceeded what he intended and that he took full responsibility for the confusion the video had caused, regardless of how it originated. He said he now understood the seriousness with which such statements are received so close to polling day.

Zambia Police have not issued a public statement on whether the matter will be investigated as a criminal offence. The video’s circulation comes two days before the country goes to the polls in an election already marked by heightened concern over political rhetoric and campaign conduct.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Hot this week

ECZ insists ballot papers valid without a cross, cites law amid rising dispute August 11, 2026 10 The Electoral Commission of Zambia has restated that a... General News

ECZ engages political party agents, monitors in Masaiti August 10, 2026 0 The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in Masaiti District... Feature Politics

Low Stakeholder Accreditation Worries ECZ In Vubwi August 10, 2026 1 The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has raised concern... Feature Politics

Zalomius cautions against unverified information August 10, 2026 1 The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cautioned civil... General News

CROP commends govt on pension reforms, urges peaceful elections August 10, 2026 0 The Consortium for the Rights and Welfare of Older...

Topics

ECZ insists ballot papers valid without a cross, cites law amid rising dispute 10 The Electoral Commission of Zambia has restated that a... General News

ECZ engages political party agents, monitors in Masaiti 0 The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in Masaiti District... Feature Politics

Low Stakeholder Accreditation Worries ECZ In Vubwi 1 The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has raised concern... Feature Politics

Zalomius cautions against unverified information 1 The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cautioned civil... General News

CROP commends govt on pension reforms, urges peaceful elections 0 The Consortium for the Rights and Welfare of Older... General News

Lusaka District accredits 4,285 election observers and monitors 1 Lusaka District has so far accredited about 4,285 election... General News

ECZ trains over 500 Isoka Poll staff 0 The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has trained 560... Sports

“Budo” Mutale itching for action after Power return 0 International midfielder Joshua “Budo” Mutale says he is eager...

Related Articles

ECZ insists ballot papers valid without a cross, cites law amid rising dispute

Findlay family in anguish after he vanishes from police custody Headlines August 10, 2026

HH, UPND favoured for first-round win, new analysis shows

Mwakalombe warns of disputed election over ballot mark row

Stick to the X, Mundubile tells electoral commission

Popular Categories