SABOI IS RIGHT, KALABA IS THE REAL DEAL- Political Analyst

SABOI IS RIGHT, KALABA IS THE REAL DEAL

_By Peter Sitolo (Political Analyst)_

SABOI Imboela has it right. President Harry Kalaba is the real deal, and in the lead-up to Zambia’s August 2026 general election, he is shaping up to be the opposition’s most credible candidate for the presidency.

In her statement today, NDC leader Saboi Imboela described President Kalaba as “an ocean of stability” at a time when Zambia is grappling with economic strain and political division. That assessment is more than rhetoric. President Kalaba’s record, temperament, and growing coalition support point to a leader who can unify the country and deliver electoral victory for the opposition.

President Kalaba’s credentials are built on years of responsible public service. As former Member of Parliament for Bahati Constituency in Luapula Province and later as Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Patriotic Front, he represented Zambia with dignity on the international stage. His 2018 resignation from cabinet on principle remains a defining moment — a rare demonstration that for President Kalaba, integrity comes before position.

That same integrity now anchors his bid under Citizens First and the broader Orange Alliance. In a political environment where many leaders chase popularity, President Kalaba has chosen consistency. He is calm where others are combative, measured where others are reactive, and focused on national healing where others deepen divisions.

Zambia cannot afford another election cycle defined by ethnic suspicion and partisan hostility.

Ms. Imboela’s call for “unity over division, love over hate, and pride over despair” reflects what many citizens feel but few leaders embody. President Kalaba’s “friend to all, enemy to none” foreign policy vision, which he vows to reinstate from day one, signals a return to diplomacy grounded in mutual respect and sovereignty — a sharp contrast to the media theatrics that have eroded Zambia’s standing abroad.

The appeal is cutting across regions. The recent defection of former Milanzi MP Whiteson Banda to Citizens First is telling. Hon. Banda not only pledged to deliver results for the party in Milanzi but also declared that “Eastern Province is behind Citizens First” and that “President Kalaba is assured of victory there.” If that sentiment holds in other battleground provinces, President Kalaba’s path to State House becomes increasingly viable.

President Kalaba’s resilience is another factor that makes him electable. He has built Citizens First from the ground up without state patronage, steadily assembling the Orange Alliance with partners like Ms. Imboela’s NDC. Together, they are presenting a platform centered on economic ownership — the idea that Zambians should not be “beggars in their own land” but active participants and beneficiaries of the economy.

His commitments to progressive education, agricultural empowerment, youth employment, and access to credit for small-scale entrepreneurs speak directly to the needs of Zambia’s majority. It is a message that resonates with citizens who feel excluded from the country’s wealth and decision-making.

The August 2026 election will be decided by more than campaign slogans. It will be decided by trust — trust in a leader’s character, track record, and ability to bring people together. On that front, President Harry Kalaba stands out

As Ms. Imboela put it, borrowing from Martin Luther King Jr., “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Zambia is at that crossroads. Citizens First offers a shelter of hope for those who feel forgotten, and President Kalaba offers the steady hand needed to lead it.

Ms. Saboi Imboela is right. In President Harry Kalaba, Zambia has a leader who is not experimenting with the country’s future. He is ready, proven, and prepared to unite and win.

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