NCP Cites Public Pressure as Talks Resume with Tonse Alliance

🇿🇲 BRIEFING | NCP Cites Public Pressure as Talks Resume with Tonse Alliance

New Congress Party leader Peter Chanda says his party’s renewed engagement with the Tonse Alliance is driven by growing pressure from ordinary Zambians calling for opposition unity ahead of the August elections.

Speaking separately to media outlets, Chanda said the NCP’s decision to re-open talks with the alliance followed sustained public appeals urging opposition parties to work together rather than remain fragmented.

He said divisions among opposition groups only strengthen the ruling party and weaken citizens seeking political change.

“The message from the people is clear and unambiguous. Continued fragmentation within the opposition only serves to entrench the status quo,” Chanda said. “Unity is not a slogan; it is a political necessity. The people have demanded it, and we are duty-bound to deliver.”

Chanda disclosed that discussions were initiated after outreach from PF Deputy Secretary General for Politics Miles Sampa, followed by consultations with PF Acting President and Tonse Alliance chairperson Given Lubinda, and PF Deputy Secretary General for Administration Celestine Mukandila.

He clarified that while reports indicated the NCP had been readmitted to the alliance, talks were still ongoing. According to Chanda, discussions have laid the groundwork for a possible NCP-PF working arrangement within Tonse, with terms of reference yet to be finalised.

“The engagement is being done in good faith, with consultations continuing among our members and key stakeholders to safeguard the party’s values and interests,” he said, adding that unity must translate into practical cooperation on the ground.

The NCP says it remains committed to strengthening opposition collaboration while consultations continue, as parties seek to present a more cohesive front in the run-up to the general elections.

© The People’s Brief | Mwape Nthegwa