NRPUP EXCUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONCEDES 2026 ELECTIONS DEFEAT
….urges peace and unity
By DAVID KANDUZA
THE National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) executive president Ezra Tembo and secretary general Nonde Mubanga today August 19, 2026, officially conceded defeat in the 2026 general elections.
During a joint media briefing on critical national matters, the leadership congratulated President-elect Hakainde Hichilema and the ruling UPND on their victory.
The briefing held in Lusaka was aimed to de-escalate political tensions following the August 13 polls.
The statement comes despite the party’s presidential candidate, Brian Mundubile, initially rejecting the results over alleged electoral irregularities.
President Tembo stated that democracy required respecting the will of the people, emphasisng that “this was not our time”.
He said leadership strongly urged all party members, supporters and the general public to respect the official results and maintain national peace.
Mr Tembo said NRPUP pledged to fulfill its role as the official opposition by offering necessary checks and balances to the Government.
The executive leadership explicitly called on Zambians to give President Hichilema and the UPND the space to govern effectively.
The joint appearance by the president and secretary general clarified the party’s institutional stance amid internal conflicting messages.
While presidential candidate Mr Mundubile outlined intentions to seek legal redress over ballot security and transportation discrepancies, the official party executives have chosen a path of reconciliation.
They reiterated that the party remained legally registered under its formal leadership structures, which were committed to moving the nation forward constructively.
NRPUP must allow Mr. Mundubile to be heard and the matter of the integrity of the elections put to rest.
The election petition of 2016 was never heard and it left a sour taste in the nation’s mouth. We all knew that the feeble excuse of 14 days is 14 days was just that, a lame excuse.
It was a terrible miscarriage of justice. We don’t want a repeat of that. It set in motion events which have led to the death of Mr. Kafwaya. We must not leave unresolved matters in our wake.
Let Mr. Mundubile be heard.