Zimba proposes unity government framework for UPND and NRPUP after 2026 election

By Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba …..This political letter is addressed to both Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema of the ruling UPND and our NRPUP Tonse Alliance Presidential Candidate, Hon. Brian Mundubile….. Yes, petitioning presidential results in Zambia is a constitutional…

By Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba

…..This political letter is addressed to both Republican President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema of the ruling UPND and our NRPUP Tonse Alliance Presidential Candidate, Hon. Brian Mundubile…..

Yes, petitioning presidential results in Zambia is a constitutional right and everyone is free to do so. But the painful legacy of post election conflicts of this nature following the death of former minister of transport and Lunte former lawmaker, Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya are horrific and tragic for anyone to continue with any form of hard politics, divisive tensions, antagonistic rhetoric and hostile confrontations.

Hence, wiser, patriotic and sober Zambian politicians in UPND and NRPUP Tonse Alliance must prioritize political ceasefire, stakeholders dialogue and reconciliation through a domestic tailor made unity government than any Western styled legal or political consideration. “A give and take approach” is now more appropriate, desirable and necessary that is premised on mutual understanding and compromise.

Proposed Conditions NRPUP Tonse Alliance’s BM and President UPND’s HH May Consider for a National Unity Government on a Give and Take Basis

1. National Amnesty for Political Detainees
Declare unconditional national amnesty and mutual forgiveness to free and release all NRPUP political detainees arrested and detained before, during and after presidential elections countrywide. More than 60 NRPUP members and leaders such as Chester Morepower, IDC, Patrick Mwansa, Bishop Mwamba, Hon. George Chisanga, etc are all detained for political reasons and need this urgent presidential amnesty from HH for national reconciliation and healing to take off.

2. Drop Charges Against Mundubile and Zulu
Unilaterally drop the political charges against NRPUP Presidential candidate, Hon. Brian Mundubile and his running mate, Hon. Makebi Zulu. Dialogue and reconciliation with UPND is the only practical option if we desire to redeem BM, MZ and many others already arrested from facing multiple malicious political charges and prolonged imprisonment instead of more legal confrontations and political battles.

3. Political Ceasefire Between UPND and NRPUP
Declare political ceasefire between UPND and NRPUP Tonse Alliance members and bloggers both at home and abroad so that both camps denounce and stop attacks, insults, malice, misinformation and cyber warfare against each other. This is very crucial if we want to bring about national healing, true reconciliation and peace in Zambia as political bloggers have become main catalysts of brutal tribalism, regionalism, hostility, tensions, hatred, political divisions and violence.

4. Protect NRPUP’s Elected Seats from Petitions
Openly commit not to maliciously petition and replace NRPUP parliamentary, mayoral and council seats in order to respect the will of the people and sustain multiparty democracy. By seeking to dialogue for peace and reconciliation with the ruling UPND, NRPUP Tonse Alliance must aim to protect and safeguard more than 300 seats of our victorious NRPUP candidates at various levels from possible malicious petitions and nullifications.

5. Cabinet, Diplomatic and Parastatal Positions for NRPUP
Demand that NRPUP Tonse Alliance is offered 4 cabinet positions, 4 diplomatic positions, 4 permanent secretary positions, 4 CEO positions at parastatal level, 30 DC positions in the national unity government between HH and BM. Once UPND and NRPUP Tonse Alliance secures such an accord, then political healing, reconciliation and peace is practically attained regardless of the election outcome. This is where “give and take” comes in effect!

6. Electoral Reforms for an Autonomous ECZ
Mutually agree to undertake specific electoral reforms in order to ensure that ECZ is autonomous and ready to administer future elections that guarantee stakeholders trust, confidence and accountability. Without such reforms, future elections will only fabricate and repeat the 2026 electoral and political horror episodes. This is the most important issue NRPUP must focus on than any petition in court.

7. NRPUP to Accept the Election Outcome
To benefit from the fruits of a unity government with UPND, NRPUP Tonse Alliance must painfully accept defeat and publicly acknowledge the outcome of the 2026 August elections as declared by ECZ and assure the President Elect of their support, cooperation and partnership than seek legally confrontation through a court petition. This is the hallmark of a meaningful dialogue, political reconciliation, peaceful resolution and national unity.

8. Dialogue Over Western-Styled Court Petitions
Complex, regionally and politically divisive post election conflicts and volatile sectarian disputes of this nature before Zambians today cannot successfully and amicably be resolved in any Western styled court petition unless through culturally sensitive dialogue, political reconciliation and traditional peace building mechanisms.

9. A Dignified Burial for the Late Former President
Zambia now needs healing process than more divisive politics and bitter rivalry so that our late former President, ECL could be buried with dignity soonest. Now that elections are over, Zambia must remember that we have failed to burry our Former President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu for more than a year. UPND and NRPUP Tonse Alliance unity government can resolve this issue mutually and amicably.

10. A Mutotwe Kafwaya Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Under such bitter circumstances for a grieving nation like Zambia today, everything must point to “a Mutotwe Kafwaya Truth and Reconciliation Commission” than any temptations to sustain political confrontations, provocations, antagonism and tensions at court level. A divided, mourning and sad nation like ours is in need of political reconciliation, unity, healing and peace.

11. The Petition as a Risky Legal Gamble
Moreover, a court petition of this nature is a dangerous gamble like one last bullet in the gun that is more likely to miss the target or desired outcome on any given day. From African perspective, this presidential petition is like to fail as a BID legal project only good at delaying the inauguration ceremony of HH to a future than securing a desired nullification of the results.

12. The Fate of Detainees if the Petition Collapses
So what will become of BM, MZ and many others with heavy political charges after the fall and collapse of the petition? What will become of our more than 60 NRPUP members like Chester Morepower, IDC, Patrick Mwansa, Bishop Mwamba, Hon. George Chisanga, etc detained for political reasons countrywide? What will be future of many people on the run and hiding in Zambia and diaspora for political reasons?

The reason I keep on sharing my personal views on this topic is simple : I am trained in comparative politics with specialization in democracy promotion and public policy analysis. So, l have chosen to be relevant to this debate than shy away or be muted in silence. Hence, l equally respect the views of others who believe and champion the opposite position. Zikomo!

Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba is the founder and Secretary General of Tonse Alliance as well as NRPUP Chief Presidential Advisor. He was Political Advisor to late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu from 2019 to 2025. He is a political scientist with a certificate, bachelors, masters and PhD in political studies.