KALABA IS DAYDREAMING IF HE THINKS HE CAN WIN 2026 ELECTIONS ALONE – ZUMANI
TONSE Alliance National Coordinator Chris Zumani Zimba says the Citizens First party’s performance in recent by-elections, shows that Harry Kalaba needs a bigger sanctuary to survive politically beyond 2026.
Zimba says any political brand outside ECL-PF, UPND and Tonse Alliance cannot win the August polls.
On Monday, Citizens First president Harry Kalaba wondered why he should join the Tonse Alliance when he was not a member of the PF.
Kalaba argued that being in an alliance does not mean working only with a specific group of people.
Meanwhile, Kalaba said he is confident the party’s Chawama candidate, who managed only 1,530 votes, will scoop the seat in the August polls.
Speaking when he featured on Millennium TV, Kalaba said the PF had been destroyed by the UPND.
In an interview, Wednesday, Zimba said it’s clear that CF cannot win the presidency on its own this year as it lacked natural public appeal.
“From the performance of CF in previous by-elections so far including the Chawama by-elections, it’s clear that Honourable Harry Kalaba needs a bigger and better political sanctuary to survive politically beyond 2026. It’s clear that CF cannot win the presidency on its own this year because this party lacks natural public appeal and voters lovability unless they are preparing for 2031 or beyond. In Chawama by-elections, CF had the most popular candidate than both FDD/Tonse Alliance or ruling UPND but they sunk in heavy defeat because Hon Harry Kalaba’s party has not received convincing public attraction or nationwide stakeholders approval like Tonse Alliance, PF or UPND. These are political realities they must introspect and try to answer with honesty and objectivity if they want to pull through beyond 2026,” he said.
“In Zambia today, there are only three major political brands with national approval: ECL/PF, UPND and Tonse Alliance. Anyone who understands current political dynamics will confirm that any political brand outside these three doesn’t come close to kissing victory in August 2026. For Tonse Alliance, the ECL/PF flag stands tall through the ECL PF political Movement although [the] PF party is no longer in the alliance. Therefore, CF must feel comfortable to join Tonse Alliance and the door remains wide open for them and others interested to work with us. To us, the CF policy of political isolationism or splendid arrogance amidst a wind of opposition unity and formation of alliances may soon or later sink Hon Harry Kalaba’s movement beyond redemption and recognition”.
Zimba further urged CF not to undermine or criticise political pacts or alliances on the market, adding it was day dreaming for the party to think they can win the 2026 elections alone.
“Clearly, political dynamics have changed and no political party must cheat themselves that they can campaign to win 2026 on their own: not even the ruling UPND are daydreaming in that fashion. So, let CF not undermine or criticise political pacts or alliances on the market. Let them figure out which Alliance they could join if they mean serious political business. Tonse Alliance would be glad and ready to welcome them. The fact that CF is failing to join Tonse Alliance, People’s Pact, UPND Alliance or WOZA is an indication that Hon. Harry Kalaba has either overrated his political popularity or is acting selfishly to the detriment of his own party and himself,” said Zimba.
“One thing is clear, in [the] 2026 Presidential and General elections, solo political parties and one man commando politicians will only waste their time, energy and resources because they don’t stand any chance to win power. Even HH is dependent on other political players and politicians to join and support in August 2026 as the only survival instinct. What is so special about CF that they think they can win power with Hon. Kalaba alone? That’s practically impossible and day dreaming! Once more, Tonse Alliance would [be] happy to join hands with CF as a new member”.
News Diggers
Mr. Kalaba is not winning the 2026 Presidential elections. However, the path he has embarked on of going solo is the right one. Instead of wasting time in unstable alliances, he is focusing on growing his party at grassroot level. He must look beyond 2026.
If he keeps this up, he just might morph into a formidable political force come 2031. There is no such a thing as natural public appeal. That appeal is built up brick upon brick and that is what Mr. Kalaba is doing.
Something is amiss in what Zumani Zimba is saying. There’s only one Patriotic Front in
Zambia. There’s no ECL – PF movement.
If the Tonse Alliance has expelled the Patriotic Front from the Tonse Alliance, then it remains so..not part of the Tonse Alliance.
We have the Party President Hon Given Lubinda, and all the Patriotic Front Structures country wide under one Patriotic Front.
As Hon Given Lubinda stated , the issue of Tonse Alliance will be dealt with after the Mayoral Bye Election scheduled for 29th January, 2026.
For now the focus is on the Campaign for the PFDD Mayoral candidate which might as well just become an alliance in it’s own right, away from the confusion in Tonse Alliance.
The Citizens First Party is better left on its own. It will come around in the second round, as indications are that Hakainde and his UPND won’t be able to Garner the 50+1 Majority.
My analysis of what will come out of the 2026 Presidential and General Elections is that,
Makebi Zulu will get a big chunk of Eastern Province ‘s 1.3 Million Votes under whatever Platform he chooses to use..He is resolved to be on the Ballot come what may..He is just like Harry Kalaba.
I don’t know where to put Hon Brian Mundubile. Looks like he is in no man’s land.
The ECL – PF Movement is a brought in Dead ( BID) idea. It is an opportunistic idea which won’t work.
The PFDD Alliance or PFX Alliance, where X is any Special purpose Vehicle the Patriotic Front will use,
will feast from Northern, Luapula, Muchinga,( 2 Million+ Votes) Copperbelt, Lusaka Provinces,( 3 Million + Votes) and the Northern Central Province.( Kabwe, Kapirimponshi, Mkushi, Chitambo, Serenje) , and part Eastern Province..And a big feast it will be.
The UPND will get Southern, Western, North Western, and the southern Central Provinces.( 2.5 Million+) and some Residual Votes here and there.
The People ‘s Pact ( Fred Mmembe and Team) will be getting some Residual Votes here and there..and so to will Harry Kalaba ‘s Citizens First Party.
The Tonse Alliance with Apostle Proffessor Dan Pule, and the ECL – PF movement will be in the Wilderness..just a BID idea.
The Tonse Alliance is DEAD..I don’t even know if they will even have a Presidential Candidate, or Parliamentary/Local government Candidates.
The statistics favor 50 + 1 for the PFDD Alliance, or PFX Alliance where X is any Special purpose Vehicle which will be chosen by the Lubinda led Patriotic Front.
It will be interesting to see Who will get the 50+1 votes.
Mr. Kalaba and day dreaming are very good friends and are inseparable.
KALABA has always thought winning an election is easy, non among the current contenders can win HH on their own, what is needed is to work together as a unit, that’s the only way. Chawama clearly showed that coming together would have been a land slide.