NO RUN-OFF!
….Wynter Kabimba claims opposition lacks structures and candidates to challenge the UPND’s absolute majority
By DAVID KANDUZA
ZAMBIA’s opposition political party the Economic Front president Wynter Kabimba has confidently dismissed suggestions that Zambia’s 2026 general election will head into a presidential run-off.
Speaking to Radio Phoenix in Lusaka, Mr Kabimba asserted that the opposition Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance completely lacked the organisational machinery and capacity to deny the ruling UPND party an outright first-round victory
Mr Kabimba a former chief executive of the Patriotic Front under founder Micheal Sata, highlighted glaring gaps in the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance’s electoral preparations as proof of their weakness:
Offloading his empirical evidence Mr Kabimba noted that the alliance fielded only 154 candidates out of 226 available parliamentary seats.
He said the opposition failed to contest nearly half of the Local Government council positions across the country.
Mr Kabimba noted that the opposition lacked the deep organisational structures and logistical efficiency needed to execute a successful nationwide campaign.
In contrast, Mr Kabimba pointed out that the ruling UPND was already entering the polls with a significant mathematical advantage.
The party had secured multiple seats unopposed:with seven Parliamentary seats already won ahead of polling day, while six council chairpersons positions safely secured
Mr Kabimba maintained that these uncontested victories give the ruling party an insurmountable head start, rendering any talk of a second-round voting transition highly unrealistic