POLITICAL ADVERT: If fundraising was democratic when UPND was in opposition, why is it a big deal when Mundubile is doing the same? Wonders Gregory Chisha, Vice National Chairperson, Tonse Alliance/NRPUP Presidential-Youth Campaign Team
READ FULL PRESS STATEMENT HERE👇:
THE UPND SHOULD NOT MOCK WHAT THEY ONCE PRACTICED – CHISHA
The Tonse Alliance/NRPUP Youths and Student Wing have noted with surprise the unfounded attacks and baseless criticism from the UPND towards the fundraising initiative launched yesterday by our Alliance President and National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) Presidential Candidate, Hon. Brian Mundubile.
When you look at these attacks, it raises one important question: What has changed now?
Lest we forget, President Hakainde Hichilema while in opposition, publicly appealed to Zambians to donate towards his presidential campaign.
Ahead of the 2016 General Elections, President Hichilema wrote on his official Facebook page, captioned “Spread the word – You can now support our fundraising efforts for the 2016 Presidential and General Elections by donating via our website at HH-Zambia.com.”
That was a direct appeal to ordinary Zambians and supporters to contribute financially towards his campaign. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that then, just as there is nothing wrong with President Brian Mundubile inviting citizens to support his campaign today.
In fact, this was not an isolated incident. On 3rd September 2020, the current Republican Vice President, Mrs. Mutale Nalumango, then UPND’s running mate, announced a Global Virtual Fundraiser for Bally’s 2021 Presidential Bid. She explained that the platform would allow Zambians and friends of Zambia across the world who believed in President Hichilema’s vision to contribute towards what she described as a people-driven revolutionary change. The fundraiser was officially launched on 6th September 2020, with Mr. Hichilema as the keynote speaker alongside senior UPND officials, including Stephen Katuka, Sylvia Masebo and Garry Nkombo.
If fundraising was an acceptable and democratic way of financing political campaigns when UPND was in opposition, why should it suddenly become a big deal simply because President Mundubile is doing exactly the same? Isn’t that high grade hypocrisy?
Political fundraising is a well-established democratic practice across the world. It allows ordinary citizens to support leaders they believe in, promotes public participation in the democratic process, and reduces dependence on a few wealthy financiers who end up holding the state to ransom
What is disappointing in this whole thing is the inconsistency it exposes from the UPND. It appears that now that UPND is in government, it has completely forgotten the very methods and sacrifices that helped it ascend to power. The opposition today is exercising the same democratic rights that UPND proudly exercised yesterday.
We therefore urge the UPND to avoid mocking practices that they once embraced. Leadership demands consistency. If fundraising was legitimate in 2016 and 2020, it remains legitimate in 2026.
President Brian Mundubile and Tonse Alliance/NRPUP believes that great movements are not built by a few wealthy individuals; they are built by ordinary citizens who believe that together they can shape a better future. As such, every donation is an investment in the democratic process and in the Zambia we all aspire to build.
President Brian Mundubile must be commended for this fundraising initiative, because he doesn’t want to seek funding from some foreign entities, groups or individuals who by funding political campaigns and exploiting factional battles within the political parties, these groups/entities end up manipulating the state machinery to enrich themselves while weakening the capacity of democratic institutions. The result of such undertakings is a compromised government that prioritizes private gain over public service.
As of this day(2nd August, 2026), the response from the supporters of President Brian Mundubile across the country and in the diaspora have overwhelmingly and positively responded towards the fundraising initiative by contributing the little they can.
We therefore encourage all well-meaning Zambians and the LAMPI Family who believe in a stronger democracy and in Hon. Brian Mundubile’s vision for our country to support this people-driven campaign by making a contribution, no matter how small, bearing in mind that the remaining few days, are the most critical for us.
History has a way of reminding us where we came from. Just like it was right to seek support from the citizens by our colleagues in the past, we too invite citizens to stand with Hon. Brian Mundubile and become part of a campaign that is powered by the people, for the people.
Issued by:
Gregory Chisha
Vice National Chairperson
Tonse Alliance/NRPUP Presidential-Youth Campaign Team