ANDYFORD BANDA REAFFIRMS LEADERSHIP, CALLS FOR INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
By Brian Matambo – Lusaka, Zambia
People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) president Andyford Banda says his party has closed the chapter on a potential leadership handover to Dolika Banda and will head to the 2026 polls with him on the ballot. Speaking on EMV Tonight after PAC’s national convention, Banda emphasized that leadership changes in the party can only be made through formal structures and conventions, not private deals.
“The arrangement with Dolika Banda did not materialize. As things stand, I am the presidential candidate for 2026. These are not decisions for an individual to make, they belong to the structures of the party, and if anything changes, it must go back to the convention,” he said.
ALLIANCES MUST BRING VALUE
The PAC leader was cautious about the wave of opposition alliance talk ahead of 2026. While acknowledging that no single party can win elections in isolation, he rejected what he called “alliances for appearances” that risk diluting principles and confusing voters.
“We would not mind joining an alliance if it advances the interests of the Zambian people. But every political party must bring something to the table. Some alliances damage your brand and reputation because they include parties that don’t stand for anything. Today they are here, tomorrow they are there. That does not help the people,” Banda argued.
His remarks echo frustrations among opposition supporters who have seen several failed coalition attempts in Zambia’s history. From the United Democratic Alliance in 2006 to more recent experiments, many alliances collapsed under the weight of competing egos and unclear platforms. Banda stressed that PAC’s focus is not just on replacing the government but on offering citizens a coherent plan: “It is not about just voting out a government, it is about giving the people a story where they can see themselves succeed.”
CALL FOR INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
Banda framed Zambia’s governance failures as institutional rather than policy-based. He argued that the country has no shortage of written strategies, whether on agriculture, SMEs, or financial services, but suffers from weak implementation and political capture.
“The biggest challenge is governance. Policies exist, but we fail to implement them because we employ people based on tribe or political loyalty, not competence,” he said.
He called for reforms in how senior officials are appointed, saying that institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) must be shielded from partisan control.
“If we employ competent people, we would have solved half of our problems. Meritocracy is the first step. Once you have capable and principled people in charge, ideas will be tested and corruption reduced. Without that, we will keep recycling failure,” Banda said.
His position aligns with concerns raised by governance watchdogs. Transparency International Zambia has consistently ranked political patronage and weak oversight institutions as key enablers of corruption. The 2024 Global Corruption Barometer also found that Zambians perceive government appointments as highly politicized, undermining public trust.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026
With just months before Parliament is dissolved, Banda insisted PAC is prepared to give Zambians a credible alternative. “We have been consistent for almost ten years. Our task now is to give hope and direction. That is what will make people trust us with power,” he said.
By reaffirming his candidacy, setting firm conditions for coalition-building, and calling for institutional reforms, Banda is positioning PAC as a party that wants to rise above transactional politics. Whether this stance can translate into broad support in 2026 will depend on whether voters believe his promise of principled leadership and whether other opposition leaders can rally around a shared platform.
As long as one aligns themselves with the malanji looters, no matter how many they are, zambians should never vote for them
Andyford Banda is just trying to be polite. Dolika Banda must have spurned him. I think Dolika did not see the political value of one Banda joining another Banda. It’s also possible she’s either trying to start her own party from scratch because she doesn’t want to feel indebted to anyone. Working with Chishala Kateka is also a possibility.
What was all that hype and excitement about Dolika Banda had arrived on the political scene and everyone watch the space? To honest, Dolika Banda would not have had any impact at all. Just noises!
Dolika Banda looks like a hardcore comedian
Let her initiate her own party, no need to jump on already moving wagon. As I indicated earlier Dolika will regret her foolish move. Time and money will be wasted. She must not think that her good credentials and education will help her. Politics is politics. HH and UPND have already campaigned by the numerous achievements done so far. You can not come out at the eleventh hour and say you want presidency. No foundation ! This is has been cheated by some people wanting to share with her her hard earned savings.