THE TONSE ALLIANCE MUST STOP USING EDGAR LUNGU AS A CAMPAIGN PROP AND FACE THE ELECTORATE WITH REAL SOLUTIONS

THE TONSE ALLIANCE MUST STOP USING EDGAR LUNGU AS A CAMPAIGN PROP AND FACE THE ELECTORATE WITH REAL SOLUTIONS

The use of former President Edgar Lungu’s image and videos by the Brian Mundubile and Makeb Zulu-led Tonse Alliance is a desperate and dangerous campaign tactic that insults the intelligence of Zambians and degrades the civility of our democracy. By turning the literal image of a former leader into a theatrical campaign prop at recent public rallies, the Tonse Alliance has crossed the line from political campaigning into blatant emotional manipulation. This is not leadership; it is a calculated attempt to exploit past legacies to bypass real policy debate, proving they have no substantive vision for Zambia’s future.

Democracy thrives on the robust debate of ideas, economic solutions, and governance strategies. When political actors like Mundubile and Zulu resort to playing video loops of Edgar Lungu instead of presenting their own concrete manifestos, they reduce national discourse to a hollow spectacle. This tactic is a severe abuse of political freedom that aims to short-circuit critical thinking and weaponise the emotions of ordinary citizens. Zambians deserve leaders who stand on their own merit, answer tough questions, and debate the pressing challenges of today. Relying on the political ghost of a former president is a psychological trick designed to manipulate minds rather than earn votes through merit.

The Tonse Alliance should look at global political history to see how this exact tactic consistently backfires. Around the world, voters routinely reject parties that try to govern from the rearview mirror using the images of past leaders. In Argentina, various factions repeatedly used the imagery and recorded words of Juan and Evita Perón to sway voters during economic crises, but citizens eventually grew tired of living in the past, leading to crushing defeats for candidates who had nothing to offer but nostalgia. Similarly, in the Philippines, political factions attempted to use the memory and imagery of past figures to maintain a grip on power, only for a younger, more critical electorate to reject the lack of modern solutions. Even within Zambia’s own history, voters have always been politically astute, and previous attempts by political actors to ride on the coattails of past leaders without offering tangible economic policies have repeatedly failed at the ballot box.

The Tonse Alliance is severely underestimating the Zambian electorate, as voters cannot be fed a diet of old videos and emotional triggers in place of real solutions for inflation, agriculture, and job creation. We call on the Tonse Alliance leadership to elevate the level of political civility in Zambia, stop using Edgar Lungu as a political shield, and step up to the podium to speak to the people with their own voices.

While the opposition remains trapped in the past and relies on cheap nostalgia, President Hakainde Hichilema stands out as a visionary, capable, and steady leader who is actively steering Zambia toward a brighter future. Instead of hiding behind videos or resorting to psychological tricks, President Hichilema engages the nation with transparency, a rigorous focus on economic stabilisation, and a proven commitment to institutional reform. His leadership relies not on the ghosts of yesterday, but on tangible results, international credibility, and a clear blueprint for national development. At a time when Zambia requires serious governance and forward-thinking strategies, Hakainde Hichilema’s maturity and practical competence provide the definitive proof that Zambia is moving forward and will not be dragged back by political theatre.THE TONSE ALLIANCE MUST STOP USING EDGAR LUNGU AS A CAMPAIGN PROP AND FACE THE ELECTORATE WITH REAL SOLUTIONS

The use of former President Edgar Lungu’s image and videos by the Brian Mundubile and Makeb Zulu-led Tonse Alliance is a desperate and dangerous campaign tactic that insults the intelligence of Zambians and degrades the civility of our democracy. By turning the literal image of a former leader into a theatrical campaign prop at recent public rallies, the Tonse Alliance has crossed the line from political campaigning into blatant emotional manipulation. This is not leadership; it is a calculated attempt to exploit past legacies to bypass real policy debate, proving they have no substantive vision for Zambia’s future.

Democracy thrives on the robust debate of ideas, economic solutions, and governance strategies. When political actors like Mundubile and Zulu resort to playing video loops of Edgar Lungu instead of presenting their own concrete manifestos, they reduce national discourse to a hollow spectacle. This tactic is a severe abuse of political freedom that aims to short-circuit critical thinking and weaponise the emotions of ordinary citizens. Zambians deserve leaders who stand on their own merit, answer tough questions, and debate the pressing challenges of today. Relying on the political ghost of a former president is a psychological trick designed to manipulate minds rather than earn votes through merit.

The Tonse Alliance should look at global political history to see how this exact tactic consistently backfires. Around the world, voters routinely reject parties that try to govern from the rearview mirror using the images of past leaders. In Argentina, various factions repeatedly used the imagery and recorded words of Juan and Evita Perón to sway voters during economic crises, but citizens eventually grew tired of living in the past, leading to crushing defeats for candidates who had nothing to offer but nostalgia. Similarly, in the Philippines, political factions attempted to use the memory and imagery of past figures to maintain a grip on power, only for a younger, more critical electorate to reject the lack of modern solutions. Even within Zambia’s own history, voters have always been politically astute, and previous attempts by political actors to ride on the coattails of past leaders without offering tangible economic policies have repeatedly failed at the ballot box

The Tonse Alliance is severely underestimating the Zambian electorate, as voters cannot be fed a diet of old videos and emotional triggers in place of real solutions for inflation, agriculture, and job creation. We call on the Tonse Alliance leadership to elevate the level of political civility in Zambia, stop using Edgar Lungu as a political shield, and step up to the podium to speak to the people with their own voices.

While the opposition remains trapped in the past and relies on cheap nostalgia, President Hakainde Hichilema stands out as a visionary, capable, and steady leader who is actively steering Zambia toward a brighter future. Instead of hiding behind videos or resorting to psychological tricks, President Hichilema engages the nation with transparency, a rigorous focus on economic stabilisation, and a proven commitment to institutional reform. His leadership relies not on the ghosts of yesterday, but on tangible results, international credibility, and a clear blueprint for national development. At a time when Zambia requires serious governance and forward-thinking strategies, Hakainde Hichilema’s maturity and practical competence provide the definitive proof that Zambia is moving forward and will not be dragged back by political theatre.THE TONSE ALLIANCE MUST STOP USING EDGAR LUNGU AS A CAMPAIGN PROP AND FACE THE ELECTORATE WITH REAL SOLUTIONS

The use of former President Edgar Lungu’s image and videos by the Brian Mundubile and Makeb Zulu-led Tonse Alliance is a desperate and dangerous campaign tactic that insults the intelligence of Zambians and degrades the civility of our democracy. By turning the literal image of a former leader into a theatrical campaign prop at recent public rallies, the Tonse Alliance has crossed the line from political campaigning into blatant emotional manipulation. This is not leadership; it is a calculated attempt to exploit past legacies to bypass real policy debate, proving they have no substantive vision for Zambia’s future.

Democracy thrives on the robust debate of ideas, economic solutions, and governance strategies. When political actors like Mundubile and Zulu resort to playing video loops of Edgar Lungu instead of presenting their own concrete manifestos, they reduce national discourse to a hollow spectacle. This tactic is a severe abuse of political freedom that aims to short-circuit critical thinking and weaponise the emotions of ordinary citizens. Zambians deserve leaders who stand on their own merit, answer tough questions, and debate the pressing challenges of today. Relying on the political ghost of a former president is a psychological trick designed to manipulate minds rather than earn votes through merit.

The Tonse Alliance should look at global political history to see how this exact tactic consistently backfires. Around the world, voters routinely reject parties that try to govern from the rearview mirror using the images of past leaders. In Argentina, various factions repeatedly used the imagery and recorded words of Juan and Evita Perón to sway voters during economic crises, but citizens eventually grew tired of living in the past, leading to crushing defeats for candidates who had nothing to offer but nostalgia. Similarly, in the Philippines, political factions attempted to use the memory and imagery of past figures to maintain a grip on power, only for a younger, more critical electorate to reject the lack of modern solutions. Even within Zambia’s own history, voters have always been politically astute, and previous attempts by political actors to ride on the coattails of past leaders without offering tangible economic policies have repeatedly failed at the ballot box.

The Tonse Alliance is severely underestimating the Zambian electorate, as voters cannot be fed a diet of old videos and emotional triggers in place of real solutions for inflation, agriculture, and job creation. We call on the Tonse Alliance leadership to elevate the level of political civility in Zambia, stop using Edgar Lungu as a political shield, and step up to the podium to speak to the people with their own voices.

While the opposition remains trapped in the past and relies on cheap nostalgia, President Hakainde Hichilema stands out as a visionary, capable, and steady leader who is actively steering Zambia toward a brighter future. Instead of hiding behind videos or resorting to psychological tricks, President Hichilema engages the nation with transparency, a rigorous focus on economic stabilisation, and a proven commitment to institutional reform. His leadership relies not on the ghosts of yesterday, but on tangible results, international credibility, and a clear blueprint for national development. At a time when Zambia requires serious governance and forward-thinking strategies, Hakainde Hichilema’s maturity and practical competence provide the definitive proof that Zambia is moving forward and will not be dragged back by political theatre.