MILUPI CONFIDENT PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S GROWING POPULARITY WILL HELP UPND MPS RETAIN SEATS
By Chamuka Shalubala
UPND Alliance Chairperson Charles Milupi is confident that President Hakainde Hichilema’s popularity will help UPND Members of Parliament retain their seats in the 2026 general elections.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Milupi attributes the President’s increased popularity to his governance style, despite facing numerous challenges since taking office.
He believes that President Hichilema’s leadership has earned him more popularity than in 2021, creating a “pull factor” that will likely lead to UPND MPs retaining their seats.
Mr. Milupi has however acknowledged that some MPs might not be able to retain their seats due to various reasons, but that the party will accept the outcome.
He indicates that the party will consider various factors during the adoption process for the UPND ticket in next year’s elections.
PHOENIX NEWS
Kkkkkk. Umwenso waingila.
I don’t think there’s a reasonable doubt of UPND mps failing to make it. The party is already popular and UPND tickets will be favourable. In Zambia most voters look at the party and not individuals. The individual ‘ s popularity is merely an added advantage. Further more many mps have performed fairly well.
I doubt whether the UPND will win any seat on the Copperbelt Province…most likely just one seat in Mpongwe.
No one is talking about the incumbent UPND members of Parliament on the Copperbelt Province.
Nchanga, Chingola, Luanshya Central, Kwacha,Chililabombwe, Ndola Central, Kabushi you name it, UPND is not on the lips of People.
In Luanshya , for example , which could have been a fertile ground for UPND looking at it’s demographics, the imprisonment of Hon Chishimba Kambwili over Tonga Hate Speech is not helping the UPND in any way… especially that it is associated with the accident he had attending to this same Tonga Hate Speech case , in which he lost two brothers.
The Candidates on the lips of people are Tonse/ PF and Independents.
And once the fetters placed on the Tonse Alliance/PF are broken, there will be a landslide win in most areas by candidates on this Ticket.
Can President Hakainde Hichilema swing the people to vote for UPND Candidates?
Even him is not popular! People are
just quiet. And silence is usually the calm before the storm. He won’t have it easy in 2026. And he knows it. This explains his obsession with Bill 7. Even when the Constitutional Court has ruled the Process unconstitutional, he is pushing on. But if he continues being stubborn on Bill 7 he again runs the risk of putting himself on a full collision course with Civil Society, the Church, and the people of Zambia. And once the Catholic Church says enough is enough, and pastoral letters begin, even the rural vote he is banking on will evaporate.
So Mzee Milupi , Don’t put up a brave face. Pa ground tapali bwino. you have to be worried…and be very Worried!
Clearing Ambiguity in my post… “Especially that the Imprisonment is associated with the accident he had attending……”
The direct opposite of that statement can also be attainable, his unpopularity which he hinted himself when he said he is hated, my effect the MP’s, so as you go for the convention, fist check what is on the ground
My take is that HH will return the presidency but most UPND MPs will have it tough especially if most of them are re-adopted for election. I see strict & careful scrutiny of candidates in next year’s elections based on one’s past performance. I stand to be corrected.