HH now extending the “UPND One Party System” of Southern Province to the rest of Zambia
By Chris ZUMANI Zimba
16th December, 2023
1. On 12th December, 2023, renowned Zambian historian and academician, Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa published an empirical article: “Zambia is at the verge of becoming a One Party State “. I agree with him in entirety looking at President Hakainde Hichilema (HH)’s political actions and deeds today;
2. My additional take is that HH is already running a “One Party System” for the UPND in Southern Province and now desires to extend it to the rest of Zambia since he is a Republican President. Here is the how:
3. In Southern Province, we know that UPND is practically the only political party that is “allowed” to openly exist, freely campaign but and ‘does not’ generally give space for rival parties to compete;
4. From the days of Anderson Mazoka in 1998 when this ruling party was formed to 2023, UPND has won all presidential elections in the “Chindu Chaitwa” province-only UPND. So far, this pattern is only peculiar to Southern Province;
5. Even when Mazoka died in 2006, Ackson Sajani and other Tonga elders led team of “Chindu Chaitwa” crusaders into Monze with a clear slogan of “Only a Tonga can succeed a Tonga” and that’s how HH was anointed as New Party Leader at Mulungushi in Lusaka;
6. Look, I attended the 2006 UPND 2 days Convention at Mulungushi in Lusaka as President of the University of Zambia Political Science Association (UNZAPOSA) with my team of observers. So, l speak with naked facts of what really happened and how HH became Makoka’s successor;
7. In Southern province, anyone who has contested with either Mazoka or HH such as Levy Mwanawasa in 2001 and 2006, Rupiah Banda in 2008 and 2011, Micheal Sata in 2011 and Edgar Lungu in 2015, 2016 and 2021 has been badly defeated and whitewashed. Clearly, Southern province votes UPND with a one party signature;
8. Apart from Livingstone central that is somehow cosmopolitan and has sometimes voted independent or opposition MPs, Southern province is the only region in Zambia that has consistently produced most UPND MPs and councilors since 1998/2001 to date as we speak;
9. Ironically, since 1998 when this party was founded to to-date, Southern province is the only region where results of presidential elections as well as parliamentary and local government polls are widely predictable or known before people vote in favour of UPND candidates only;
10. The most outstanding vote signature of Southern province for UPND was in 2016 when opposition HH then got away with ‘abnormal votes’ against a sitting president, Edgar Lungu who got practically ‘nothing’ in Dundumwezi constituency;
11. In 2016, Dundumwezi constituency in Kalomo District, with a voter turn out of 79% gave PF and Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu 252 votes against his main rival, UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema who got 30, 810 votes. Empirically, this was naked testimony that Southern province votes UPND as a symbol of “one party system”;
12. During the 2001, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2021, it is widely reported that many if not most MMD and PF poling agents were chased and beaten out of most rural polling stations across Southern Province and thereby left UPND agents to “monitor and facilitate” voting on their own;
13. According to the Democracy In Africa (DIA) report by Nic Cheeseman and Nicole Beardeworth for 15th August, 2021, the last Presidential Election Results still confirms and validates the overt existence of HH and UPND’s One Party system in Southern province;
14. A sample of presidential results for 2021 in eight constituencies of Southern province reveal the same old UPND monopoly one political party realities: Mapatizya gave HH 29,859 while ECL got 620; Pemba gave HH 29,470 while ECL got 320; Dundumwezi gave HH 27,883 who ECL again got 262, Chikankata gave HH 29749 while ECL got 966; Sinazongwe gave HH 48,334 while ECL got 1,683; Namwala gave HH 34,992 while ECL got 1,376; Kaoma gave HH 17,886 while ECL got 2,725 and Nangoma gave HH – 18,775 while ECL got 1,424.
15. In Southern province, UPND cadres make the place so inhabitable for other Zambians who do not support their party. Non UPND Zambians especially those with names from Eastern, Luapula, Northern and Muchinga provinces live in phobia, fear, trauma and at risk for their lives during and after elections in most parts of this province;
16. For instance, in 2015 and 2016 national elections, the announcement of ECL’s victory and defeat of HH saw houses for many PF supporters, Easterners and Northerners burnt down in Namwala-HH’s home district, Choma, Itezi Tezi, etc with hundreds being harassed, beaten and threatened to migrate to their ethnic regions. Some death were recorded too. Again, this political behavior is only peculiar to Southern province as a UPND one party signature;
17. Therefore, to think that HH wants to introduce a one party system in Zambia is correct but an understatement of our past and current political realities since 1998 when UPND was formed in terms of what is happening in Southern province; and
18. For the past 25 years, UPND has already succeeded to creating a “one party system” in Southern province and now that HH is in power, he is just using the same “Mapatizya formula” to extend the monopoly party system everywhere.
How is HH exporting and extending a “One Party System” to the rest of Zambia?
1. The practice of arbitrary arresting, harassing and assaulting key opposition leaders and critics is now rampant and abnormally normal in Zambia today under HH;
2. Outstanding political opponents or rivals of UPND and HH who are being routinely targeted, arrested and politically eroded from existence include former ruler Edgar Lungu, Fred Mmembe, Sean Tembo, Chilufya Tayali, Given Lubinda, Edith Nawakwi, Saboi Imboela, Harry Kalaba, Bowman Lusambo, Emmanual Mwamba, Chishimba Kambwili, Kasonde Mwenda and Raphael Nakachinda being classical examples;
3. The UPND government is openly sponsoring political chaos, leadership divisions and destroying other rival political parties by creating internal spoiler factions. The case of spoiler faction under Miles Sampa, Chabinga, Antony Mumba and their Judas Iscariot peers in destroying the main opposition PF is visible for everyone;
4. The UPND is brutally weaponizing ECZ for itself as seen in the Kwacha and Kabushi for Malanji and Lusambo as well as in the upcoming bye elections where mainstream PF led by Edgar Lungu is being banished systematically to savagely favour a UPND sponsored PF faction of Miles Sampa;
5. Scale up in abuse of public offices and weaponization of state Institutions against political opponents. The case of Hon. Joseph Malanji, Hon. Bowman Lusambo in 2022 parliamentary by elections will remain a legacy story for the UPND’s destruction of the PF and opposition parties in Zambia using ECZ and the judiciary;
6. Now, the UPND is reported to be extending the same opposition destructive scheme into Socialist Party, NDC, PEP, FDD, EFF and any other meaningful opposition party with the same aim of destroying or weakening them in order to create a Southern province one party system;
7. HH’s New Dawn government has formally banned any political gatherings in form of rallies or public meetings for all opposition political parties in Zambia. Since August 2021 and apart from during bye elections, all known opposition parties such as PF, Socialist Party, PEP, EFF, FDD, NDC, etc have been openly denied permit to hold public meetings anywhere in Zambia by the police apart from the UPND itself;
8. Threatening actual closure of independent media outlets for covering opposition leaders or government critics. Hot FM is a classic example when IBA threatened to ‘close them down’ this year if they continued to host government opponents and HH’s critics like Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa;
9. Recently in the case of EFF’s Kasonde Mwenda on the Copperbelt, the police made it clear that all opposition parties and leaders will no longer be allowed to hold media briefings without the prior notification and approval of the Zambia police. In other words, UPND is curtailing divergent views and closing up on freedom of expression and media engagements; and
10. Clearly, systemically and gradually, the New Dawn government of HH has set the executive, legislature and part of the judiciary on course to run this direction and everyone is being tutored to enforce and implement this new authoritarian political direction for Zambia to suit the “one party system” of Southern Province.
Therefore, just as UPND does not allow any meaningful political challenge and competition in Southern province since 1998 where they have practically created a monopoly one party system for themselves, HH now as Republican President believes that he can succeed to do the same at national level where UPND is the only party and Bally is the only worshipped political king for all and in all provinces.
But will our citizens and international partners allow President HH to destroy our hard earned democratic legacy and let him to become our “janza kumbele “ Adolf Hitler just like this?
Dr Chris ZUMANI Zimba is a Political Scientist, Researcher, Author & Consultant specialized in Comparative Global Governance and Democratic Theories. He holds a PhD, MA, BA and Cert in Political Science. Zimba was President Lungu’s Political Advisor from December 2019 to August 2021.
While you’re entitled to your opinions, whether sensible or sensible, it is not patriotic to distort facts. Your item no. 16 is not factual. I wonder how those criminals who burnt houses in the stated districts were not arrested and convicted if what you are saying is factual.
We can’t add or subtract sir. You’ve rightly spelt what everyone including the kraal dweller know.
Writes a bitter soul who advised ECL wrongly until he lost election
The problem of writing an article out of bitterness is that the Author is blinded from objectivity. Did Zimba expect people from Dundumwezi, to vote for ECL, when he had done nothing for them apart from consistently insulting and mocking them?
Zimba is resentful because of the time he spent in jail, the outlet of his resentfulness is writing articles that are shallow espousing academic laziness. He uses figures to illustrate his point but deliberately fails to point out the cause of the discrepancy in the voting pattern. He employs the strategy of “cheating using statistics” which doesnt work with the enlightened because it is easier shred through his arguments. He should ask himself why people of southern province give more votes to Sata in comparison to ECL? If he can objectively answer the question his unfounded childish fears of one party state will vaporize.
ECL was so confident that rigging would work, that he never cared for the people of southern province. This is evident even in the choice of his running mate. When ECL was less confident of victory he settled for Inonge as a running mate. Despite the ridicule she suffered from Kalaba’s and his kind she assisted in giving ECL more votes in UPND strong holds. But when ECL seatled for Luo, even those that had given ECL a benefit of doubt where completely let down, they felt neglected and resolved to teach ECL a lesson.
In conclusion rigging failed and no candidate can belittle other provinces and expect to win. if any of the opposition candidates Zimba wishes to win continue with their malice against HH they will get Zero votes in UPND strongholds and will continue crying wolf wolf. It’s self delusion for Zimba to think fred is factor in UPND strongholds, Dr. Nevers Mumba is likely to receive more votes in UPND strongholds in comparison to Fred because people in those areas can read in between the line and refuse to be cheated.
This is the real problem of these Gonna Universities producing awarding fake PhDs to intellectually mediocre graduates like Zimba.
Surely, Zimba is bitter PF cadre that misadvised PF and ECL to the extent that Lungu lost an election by 1 million votes. That is the extent to which Zimba got it wrong but has no shame of admitting his mistake and apologising to the owners of the party and ECL in particular.
Just what kind of information was he providing? Just like he has not provided any empirical on the foolish article he has written about UPND, Zimba was providing positive advice to Lungu and PF assuring them of victory without any evidence. Lungu and PF took that advice with both hands and the consequences were catastrophic.
The chap writes articles that have no evidence which is typical of graduates from Gonga Universities.
Zimba, a half baked PhD holder from Lusaka University ends up misleading ECL and PF into unimaginable loss with a huge margin. He and Mr Shuwa are to yo the same game again.
Unfortunately thee small nashala neka opposition parties will suffer severe losses in 2026 if they they believe these Gonga dons that write lies every day. Be warned!
This is the real problem of these Gonna Universities producing awarding fake PhDs to intellectually mediocre graduates like Zimba.
Surely, Zimba is bitter PF cadre that misadvised PF and ECL to the extent that Lungu lost an election by 1 million votes. That is the extent to which Zimba got it wrong but has no shame of admitting his mistake and apologising to the owners of the party and ECL in particular.
Just what kind of information was he providing? Just like he has not provided any empirical on the foolish article he has written about UPND, Zimba was providing positive advice to Lungu and PF assuring them of victory without any evidence. Lungu and PF took that advice with both hands and the consequences were catastrophic.
The chap writes articles that have no evidence which is typical of graduates from Gonga Universities.
Zimba, a half baked PhD holder from Lusaka University ends up misleading ECL and PF into unimaginable loss with a huge margin. He and Mr Shuwa are to yo the same game again.
Unfortunately thee small nashala neka opposition parties will suffer severe losses in 2026 if they they believe these Gonga dons that write daily lies!
Ba Sir just by analysing your comments, i think you are not normal and somthing is not ok with you. Don’t cadriz everything and you need to be sober minded sometimz. The question i may ask is…point out anything the gentle man has lied on her. If we are to move foward as a nation, lets forget about out politicsl afiliation and speak the reality. I can see alot of people have been blinded by the so called politics
And talk about the one party state created by PF in the Luapula and chambeshi regions of Northern and Muchinga. Since PF was formed in 2001 UPND has been defeated and white washed in all the elections held. What’s your comment?
I am not surprised at all as this is coming from a guy who was picking road infrastructure and fish farming projects done in other countries from the internet and present them as projects done by Lungu on Lungu’s Facebook page. Can someone dig the photos up and show him. He never even apologised. In academia it’s called plagiarism. That should explain why he has DR. in front of his name. We shouldn’t be wasting time on useless people. Did anyone observe how Lungu governed? He used to pick the most useless guys and crooks like himself. People who were well informed that would give him proper advice and guidance never lasted.
This is the tragedy of studying political science and history!
You have to make noise to survive!
Yes, you claim to have PhDs koma muliye nzelu!
Zambia is a free country if you abide by the Rule of Law!
Don’t expect peace when your utterances and your style of politics border on hooliganism and Lawlessness! The presidency has many tools at it’s disposal to deal with Lawless Hooligans! The president can declare a state of emergency to deal with local terrorists like PF thugs! He can govern by decree!
Internal PF problems are entirely self-inflicted!
The death of PF cannot suddenly become the death of Democracy which PF never upheld during their time in power!
People are free to register new political parties!
The mental instability of a few deluded Academicians in political party ligalia is not something that will unsettle the modern well-informed, non-partisan and non-tribal voter!
Just take a Sabbatical from active politics and do something about your own bitterness!
Whether one likes it or not this article is factual and contains no malice which is written by a political intellectual deserving praises.
No word by Chris Zumani Zimba on what drove late Anderson Mazoka from the MMD. He was advised to start his political career from the grassroots and he obliged by standing as a ward chairman in Bauleni ward of Lusaka Central constituency. He contested an election at ward level there and won. Frederick Chiluba told MMD secretary general Michael Sata to nullify the election. A new one was organised. Mazoka recontested and won again. Once again the election was nullified. That’s how Mazoka left the MMD to found the UPND.
Great write-up, Chris! Only those hurt by the truth you bring out will call you names.
Why is it that most of the so called Doctors in Zambia are proving to be the most useless bloggers? When I say Doctors, I don’t include Medical Doctors, I am talking about some Doctors of Philosophy. Dr. Zimba is joining the group of some of these useless Doctors who want to use every opportunity they can find to blame, criticize and scandalize HH on whatever he is doing although no one has ever stooped them from doing what he is doing. For example, they have said that HH lied to the Zambian People and that is why they voted for him, but who stopped them from telling lies if that was the formula to win? Are they not just confirming that HH is a political genius? Now Dr. Zumani is saying that HH has made Southern Province a one party Province and is extending the one party system to all the Provinces in the country, but no one has stopped Zumani Zimba to do the same in his home Province which I believe is Eastern Province. Dr. Zimba should know that each person has a Province where he/she comes from and if that person is to become famous, his/her fame is to start from there. HH comes from Southern Province and started his political career at a tender age like that of Zumani Zimba and if he has now managed to make Southern Province a one party Province, why can’t Zumani Zimba also do the same in Eastern Province instead of wasting his time talking about HH every day? In life, it is normal that one woman can attract more men than the other, you just have to ask for her Secret if she can reveal it to you. Each Province has politicians like HH, e.g. in Eastern Province, we have J.J. Banda, Lameck Mangani, Zumani Zimba himself, Angela Chifire etc, In Muchinga we have Edith Nawakwi who even joined politics much earlier than HH, we have Stephen Kampyongo, Catherine Namugala etc. in Northern, we have GBM, Mutotwe Kafwaya, Brian Mundubile, Emma Mwamba etc. in Luapula we have, Harry Kalaba, Ronald Chitotela, Nixon Chilangwa, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, Davies Mwila etc, Copperbelt, we have the moving dictionary George Mpompo, we have the famous BBBL (Bulldozer, Bootlicker, Bowman Lusambo), we have also the other famous umwine wa chisushi Dr. CK and many others. Of course even in other Provinces like Western, Northwestern, Central and Lusaka, we have gallant men and women there. So who has ever stopped all these people or anyone of them to make his/her Province a one party Province like what HH has done to Southern Province? And if they have not managed to do so, why should Zumani Zimba look at HH? Te kutumpa fye uko? God blesses and exalts people differently, e.g. king Solomon was more blessed than others, late Pele, Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Drogba, etc are more famous than other footballers, that is how life is and that is how God works. That being the case, HH is not extending any one party system anywhere, but he is just one of the few blessed politicians who has managed to have his fame go outside Southern Province and has spread to all the other parts of the country. Otherwise the people of Southern Province don’t just support anyhow or for the sake of tribe, because if they were supporting on those grounds, even other policians like late Daniel Munkombwe, Greyford Monde, Richwell Siamunene, Highvie Hamududu and others could have been as famous as HH. So what is the secret? HH doesn’t know the politics of the belly as late Daniel Munkombwe once put it, HH has the support of the whole Province because he is courageous, determined, disciplined, consistent, visionary and always talks sense and truth. HH has a message for everyone, he has a message for farmers, miners, retirees, old people, youths, students, on overall, he gives a lot of hope and inspiration to voters and this is what most of the politicians are lacking.
Let me end by saying that I am more than happy to hear it from Zumani Zimba himself that he agrees that a cosmopolitan town like Livingstone votes for people from outside Southern Province. That is true and it is a fact that one cannot deny. But Livingstone is not the only cosmopolitan town in Zambia, we have also other towns or cities like Chipata, Kasama, Chinsali and Mansa. Zumani Zimba agrees that a Mr. Jere or Mr. Banda can easily win even a Parliamentary seat in Livingstone while it is hard or impossible to win the same seat in Chipata if a Mr. Simuuwe or Mr. Hangoma stood there, the same with kumbi uku ukwashala. So at the end of the day, you may find that the same Tongas that you always paint black are more accommodating, more receptive and more generous when it comes to voting than most of the areas in Zambia. People vote for a person and not for the name, most politicians don’t like Southern Province and during campaigns, they don’t even go there, we don’t know what they are fearing the friendly and peaceful people of Southern Province. But HH makes sure that he covers all the Provinces when he is campaigning and in all his campaign speeches, he consistently preaches unity and not disunity. Zambia is just lucky, HH is the right person for the job, complains will not change anything.
You think writing long useless responses is what will wash your sins of tribalism. Muzachiona amambala.