KBN Defends its Opposition Leadership Survey As Credible, Contrary to UPND’s Claim
Lusaka, 28 July 2025 — KBN Television Chief Executive Officer, Pastor Kennedy Mambwe has dismissed allegations by UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe that the station’s recent national opposition leadership survey was flawed and fraudulent.
Mr. Simuuwe had questioned the credibility of the survey, which showed that 76.3 percent of respondents want a change in presidential leadership in 2026 and placed PF Mporokoso MP Brian Mundubile as the leading opposition candidate with 20.7 percent of the vote. The UPND official criticised the survey’s online method and argued that it failed to show how many eligible voters were reached, suggesting it was not representative of the Zambian population.
In response, Pastor. Mambwe stated that while the survey had limitations—as all public opinion exercises do—there was nothing fraudulent about the process.
“We categorically reject the claim that the KBN survey is fraudulent. It was conducted transparently over a 10-day period and attracted 2,377 verified responses from across all ten provinces. It was open to the public, non-partisan, and designed to gauge perception, not predict electoral outcomes,” Pastor. Mambwe said.
He acknowledged the points raised by the UPND as “constructive” and promised that future KBN surveys would include more robust questions, such as whether respondents are registered voters and their political leanings, to improve data depth and diversity.
“We hear the concerns raised. Going forward, we will include indicators such as voter registration status and self-declared political affiliation, and we’re exploring offline data collection to capture broader demographics,” he said.
Pastor. Mambwe maintained that the KBN Television Research Desk remains committed to professional media practice and to contributing to Zambia’s democratic development.
“Our goal is to stimulate informed national dialogue, not to crown political winners. What the survey clearly showed is that Zambians are deeply interested in who leads the opposition. This is a space that deserves attention and open discussion.”
He further emphasized that the media house will continue to release more opinion-based surveys in the coming months, covering governance, the economy, youth priorities, and electoral readiness.
“We believe the road to 2026 requires courage, ideas, and honesty—from both political leaders and media institutions,” he concluded.
Issued by:
KBN TV RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
KBN IS A TOILET STATION WHICH CAN NOT BE TRUSTED BECAUSE OF HAVING INVISIBLE HANDLE .
it does not look fraudulent, but usrely an online survey in a country like Zambia can be very misleading.
There were many such surveys in 2021 giving PF and lungu a massive victory but what happened was totally different.
In a Population of 20 million with about 6 million registered Voters, is a Sample of only 2,377 a Representative Sample (0.0004%), even if the Sample was drawn from all the 10 Provinces (i.e 237 people per Province). I have my doubts about this Sample, from a Statistical point of view.
The survey was trash and the owner of the trash bin has admitted and promised to do better sampling
methods next time .
Ati KBN Television Research Desk.Very funny.You must think research rigour is selling newspapers
The survey is a political ploy and staged to effectively position Mundubile Brian in the fore target against other opposition political candidates. How did Mundubile come into sample against the incumbent? It is a PF game to grab political seat from Mr Lubinda. When did the TV station became a surveyor to conduct election poll’s?
Why are you crying foul? Mark once said there is no opposition in Zambia and that he feels bad that there is one or two small opposition which made him feel sad that 2026 is already won
Dreams are dreams very far from factual or facts. UPND please if you have not introduced barbarism through acting colonial laws that our founding fathers and mothers fought hard to stop and managed to do so, cyber , and hate speech crimes , you would have known the mood, thoughts, feelings, fears and emotions of the people of Zambia and start approaching things in different ways to attract voters. You are now in echo chambers unable to hear or understand the moods of the people in Zambia. Suppressing others using draconian laws, police , judiciary and government institutions such ACC, DEC , sponsoring cadres or people with questionable credentials or characters will come to bite you in future . Be kind and objective
Like all surveys, there are limitations. Limitations may be in the Methodology used and the Sampling criteria..or in the way the study questions are phrased.
A surprising result however, is how Hon Brian Mundubile would score higher than Hon Given Lubinda. Whereas Hon Mundubile is Member of Parliament and former Leader of the house, his depth with the grassroot is very shallow.
If PF had been allowed political space in Zambia, a Ticket with Given Lubinda as Presidential Candidate and Brian Mundubile as running mate could have easily defeated Mr Hakainde Hichilema and ba Mayo ba Nalumango in 2026. The former has a national appeal especially in cosmopolitan areas, while the latter brings his authority in Parliament and colleagues can coalesce around him, in addition to the voting block from the north East.
But Mr Hakainde Hichilema is resolved never ever to see PF on an Elections Ticket. Infact Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s survival in next year’s Presidential Elections is anchored on Robert Chabinga..to use Chabinga all the way to ensure PF is not on the Ballot whether at Councillor, Mayor, MP or Presidential Elections. If it so happens that the Courts give the PF some space, Hakainde becomes history in 2026..PF is a force in Zambia with unshakable grassroot Support both in Urban and rural areas. But Hakainde Hichilema with all institutions in his pocket has virtually ‘banned ‘ PF in Zambia.
As it is the PF has to walk the muddy waters of alliances, in which opportunistic ‘ scavengers ‘ like KBF and Sean Tembo lie in wait to eat from the ‘ Carcass ‘ .
The 2026 Presidential Elections will be some thing we have never seen before in Zambia…It will be total chaos. Massive Irregularities, while ECZ and other Institutions look away, Candidates will be disappearing on day of nominations ( of course bought to go into hiding) , Outright Corruption, Violence , Voter Intimidations, and Robert Chabinga will reign supreme unleashing chaos all over.. What we saw in 2026 elections in UPND strongholds where Monitors were chased from polling stations was just a Tip of the ice beg. As Hakainde himself has said, ” it will be difficult for the Opposition to remove us from power. We were in opposition for a long time ”
It will be a ‘ Through Fire to Heaven ‘ election. And Opposition Political parties, Civil Society Organizations, Election Monitors both local and international , should put their act together now..Let them have a presence in the Electoral process starting from 1st August, 2025.
But off course no one can stop the people’s will for Change.
It happened in 2021 and it can happen in 2026. And come what may, as the KBN survey shows,
Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND are going next year.
Twaluumba.