GULAM PATEL NAMED AS KEY FINANCIER IN OPPOSITION PLOT AHEAD OF AUGUST POLLS
LUSAKA — Prominent Lusaka businessman and Nyimba Investments proprietor, Gulam Patel, has been linked to a coordinated financial campaign aimed at destabilizing the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration ahead of the August elections.
Leaked intelligence indicates that earlier this year, Patel instructed lawyer Makebi Zulu to intensify legal battles between the state and the family of former President Edgar Lungu. Sources describe the move as a calculated effort to damage President Hakainde Hichilema’s public image.
Leaked intelligence indicates that earlier this year, Patel instructed lawyer Makebi Zulu to intensify legal battles between the state and the family of former President Edgar Lungu. Sources describe the move as a calculated effort to damage President Hakainde Hichilema’s public image.
According to insiders within the Patriotic Front (PF), Patel has emerged as a principal financier of opposition strategies designed to fuel public dissatisfaction. Among the alleged tactics was the prolonged, highly politicized dispute surrounding the burial of former President Lungu.
Chasing Lost State Contracts
Senior PF sources reveal that Patel has held private strategy sessions with Makebi Zulu and Brian Mundubile to unite opposition forces.
“Gulam wants to ensure Makebi Zulu rises as the main opposition leader and eventually the Presidency,” a source stated. “The ultimate goal is to regain access to the lucrative government supply contracts his family lost when the UPND took office.”
Patel is reportedly aggrieved by the cancellation of several multimillion-kwacha state contracts in the health, tourism, mining, and agriculture sectors following President Hichilema’s anti-corruption reforms.
In a separate political maneuver, Patel reportedly courted Darlington Chiluba—son of the late former President Frederick Chiluba—to join active politics. However, Chiluba reportedly distanced himself from the plot, expressing respect for President Hichilema and noting that he would not consider a presidential run until 2031.
State Security on High Alert
The government is increasingly alarmed by these covert financial networks. Security and intelligence agencies are currently monitoring several high-profile businessmen across Lusaka, Chipata, and other key towns suspected of organizing closed-door fundraising for PF factions.
State officials emphasize that the scrutiny is strictly legal, not racial or nationality-based. While Zambia continues to welcome legitimate foreign and local investment, insiders warn that anyone using wealth to distort democracy, evade taxes, or launder money will face prosecution.
Regulatory bodies—including the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)—are now auditing companies suspected of keeping double books, under-declaring imports, and using shell companies to fund political campaigns.
As ordinary Zambians demand accountability, the UPND administration faces a critical test of its campaign promises. The message currently reverberating through Lusaka’s boardrooms is clear: Zambia is open for business, but it is not for capture.
Source: Elly Katu
Ati AKI and POPO??? The threat of BM and MZ is real! These tactics will not work. Too late, people have already decided.
Funny. We are in election period and parties need to fundraise. All written here is crap. The heat is being felt
Open your eyes an change your position.Your pf was just a grouping of thieves
Here we go again with UPND. Failing to acknowledge that when they were in opposition they promised Zambians Heaven and instead they delivered Hell for Zambians. Loadshedding, mealie meal prices soaring, fertilizer prices soaring, the general cost of living just beyond ordinary Zambians. Instead of swallowing pride and accept that we have not delivered to people’s expectations, you are busy looking for who to blame in the opposition and ordinary Zambians. HH stood before Zambian and made these promises and today he cant accept the he failed ? What kind of leadership is this ? Do you expect Zambians to give you a second mandate when you are too proud to acknowledge your shortcomings on the very promises you made to Zambians. The country went through 5 years of loadshedding the country has never experiences before and you come before Zambians to brag about the $6.5b the country has in reserves. How many companies closed due to loadshedding ? How many people lost jobs due to loadshedding ? How many people died in hospitals due to lack of power to conduct emergency surgery procedures, How many students failed exams due to insufficient preparation because there was no electricity ? Mr President , Zambia is bigger than you and Zambia is bigger than all of us. Stop blaming others and own up to your mistakes. You promised Zambians that under your leadership there will be no more borrowing, can you tell the nation whether under your leadership Zambian did not borrow ? Time has come for Zambians to put you on a scale, weigh you and find out whether you deserve another term. With this level of pride and arrogance, Zambians are ready for change.
Be careful what you laugh at when not in power because when you gain power you will find the same issues.Things are hard world wide….you population has grown,you think you sort out issues in 90 days,wala!That is why PF allowed caderism,they knew they could not satisfy everyone,that is why they started dishing out money,that is why they allowed illegal mining,that is why they allowed corruption,stealing of government money,they were overwhelmed by the population and it’s demands.Its not easy..the!Mundubile is not your saviour,none is!!
Thanks Matumbo….Indeed the heat is on and it is becoming a game of looking for scapegoats
The Milon brothers represent a collective of criminals. Their enterprises rely heavily on government contracts and tenders for survival. These Indians have effectively taken control of the government during Lungu`s reign, profiting significantly and transferring wealth out of Zambia. It is essential that following the elections, the government addresses this issue.
All lies. Nobody but opposition themselves is funding the opposition.