Why did the Conclave go Silent After Hon Brian Mundubile Left?

By Amon Chisenga

What happened to the PF conclave after Brian Mundubile withdrew? Did it continue with the same seriousness, or did it die the moment he walked away? If the conclave was truly meant to bring peace and unity, why did it suddenly go quiet after his withdrawal?

How many other candidates were still there? Surely there were still many people contesting. If the conclave was really about reducing the number of candidates, why didn’t they just continue with those who remained? Why didn’t the elders say, “Mundubile has left, but the process continues”?

If the conclave could not move forward without Mundubile, what does that tell us? Was it really about unity, or was it mainly created to deal with him and his growing support?

Why were there threats of discipline and expulsion while the conclave was still going on? How can people claim they want unity, while at the same time planning to punish one of the participants? Is that peace, or is that betrayal?

If attending a Tonse Alliance meeting is now called “gross indiscipline,” why were other political meetings allowed? Why is discipline being used only on some people and not others? Why does it look like a system being used to remove certain candidates?

Most importantly, why does PF need a conclave when its Constitution already gives a clear answer: hold a general conference and vote? Why replace voting with private discussions among rivals, where jealousy and fear can easily control the outcome?

If the conclave was not a trick, why didn’t it continue after Mundubile left? Why did it stop when things became serious? Could it be that the conclave was not meant to solve PF’s problems, but to create a planned result?

PF members must ask the simple question: was the conclave meant to unite the party, or was it meant to remove Mundubile without a vote? Because if the process ended when he left, then it was never about unity. It was about control.

PRESS STATEMENT
18/01/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLD NIGHTS, EMPTY POCKETS: KBF CONDEMNS CRUEL AND DEHUMANISING TREATMENT OF ZAMBIAN FARMERS

Lusaka — The Presidential Press Office of Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP)

President, Mr. Kelvin Fube Bwalya (KBF), strongly condemns the cruel, dehumanising, and incompetent handling of farmer payments by the UPND government under President Hakainde Hichilema.

The Party has taken note of deeply disturbing videos circulating on social media showing Zambian farmers queuing for days, sleeping at bus stations and in open spaces under cold conditions, merely to access payment for maize supplied months ago. These images are a national embarrassment and a betrayal of the men and women who feed the nation.

Mr. Bwalya has described this situation as a national disgrace and a clear demonstration of administrative failure.

The farmers affected delivered their maize between June and August 2025, yet are only now being subjected to chaotic and degrading payment processes. Instead of utilizing modern, efficient systems such as bank transfers or mobile money particularly for farmers without formal bank accounts the government has forced citizens into congested physical payment points, exposing them to suffering, insecurity, and indignity.

“This is not governance; it is cruelty,” Mr. Bwalya stated. “In the 21st century, the UPND government has chosen queues over competence, suffering over systems, and chaos over common sense. Farmers are now sleeping in the cold at bus stations like refugees in their own country, simply to receive money they earned.”

Zambia Must Prosper further notes that these payment delays are part of a broader collapse in agricultural planning and administration, including the chronic failure of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). Reports of farmers being forced to share a single bag of seed or fertilizer among dozens of people reflect a system in total disarray.

As a result, valuable time that should be spent preparing land and inputs for the upcoming farming season is being wasted in endless queues. This loss of productive time translates directly into reduced planting, lower yields, rising food prices, and deepening rural poverty.

“When you punish farmers, you punish the economy,” Mr. Bwalya emphasized. “You undermine food security, weaken the kwacha, inflate food prices, and push families deeper into poverty. This government has failed the farmers, and by extension, it has failed Zambia.”

Zambia Must Prosper therefore calls on the UPND government to:

1. Immediately reform farmer payment systems by adopting efficient electronic and mobile payment platforms;
2. Compensate farmers for delays and losses arising from late payments; and
3. Provide a full public account explaining how routine payments deteriorated into scenes of national humiliation.

“Zambian farmers are not beggars,” Mr. Bwalya concluded. “They are workers, producers, and patriots. They deserve respect, efficiency, and leadership not cold nights, long queues, and empty promises.”

The growing public outrage reflects a nation increasingly alarmed by a government that appears to have lost both its moral compass and its administrative capacity.

Issued by:
The Presidential Press Office
Kelvin Fube Bwalya (KBF)
President – Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP)
Tonse Alliance Vice Chairperson

 VIEWPOINT | Hakainde Hichilema’s Absence and Opposition Questions

Early January saw a surge of speculation about the health of President Hakainde Hichilema, much of it driven by social media and opposition commentary. Those claims weakened significantly on January 5 when the President appeared in Choma, greeted members of the public and later addressed a rally. Government officials dismissed the rumours, and the images from Choma were widely seen as sufficient proof that the President was well and active.

Since that appearance, however, a different issue has emerged. The President has not been seen publicly for nearly two weeks. There have been no confirmed public engagements, no church appearances, no official inspections and no released programme of presidential activities. Communication attributed to the President has been limited to brief Facebook posts, often accompanied by static photographs.

This silence stands out because it contrasts sharply with President Hichilema’s established leadership style. He is typically visible, accessible and publicly engaged. Wherever he travels, church attendance and community interaction are usually documented. Even when he works outside Lusaka, his movements are rarely opaque. The current absence therefore attracts attention not because of speculation alone, but because it departs from a familiar pattern.

The Chawama parliamentary by election has added another layer to the discussion. It is reasonable to argue that the President deliberately left the campaign to the party and its candidate, a decision consistent with democratic practice. Presidents do not attend every by election, and delegating such contests to party structures is not unusual. Still, opposition figures point out that President Hichilema often appears in public spaces during political moments, even when he is not directly campaigning. His absence during a high profile contest in the capital therefore raised eyebrows, not as proof of wrongdoing, but as an unusual choice.

Opposition voices have returned to questioning his whereabouts, and this time the questions are more measured. They are not asserting illness as fact. They are asking why the President has remained out of public view for an extended period, why no official explanation has been offered, and why this is happening in an election year when visibility matters politically.

What has intensified the debate is the lack of official clarification. No minister has outlined whether the President is on leave, working privately, or engaged in duties away from public view. No schedule has been shared. Silence, in such circumstances, does not settle public curiosity. It widens the space for interpretation.

The President’s Facebook message congratulating the winner of the Chawama by election was widely welcomed and reinforced his respect for democratic outcomes. Yet it also underscored the distance between the presidency and the public at this moment. Messages posted online, even when well intentioned, do not carry the same weight as presence in a political culture accustomed to seeing its leader.

There remains no verified evidence that President Hichilema is unwell. There is also no proof that the government is concealing a crisis. What exists is a communication gap between State House and the public. This gap is now the focus of political debate.

Opposition leaders are within their rights to ask questions about the President’s absence. Government is equally entitled to reject false narratives. Both positions can stand without contradiction. What resolves uncertainty is clarity.

Leadership in an election year is measured not only by policy and results, but by visibility and reassurance. When a President known for public engagement goes quiet, questions are inevitable. Those questions will persist until they are answered, not because of hostility, but because accountability in a democracy depends on openness.

© The People’s Brief | Editors

SAMPA APOLOGIZES TO ECZ OVER FAKE POLLING STATION CLAIM

Matero Member of Parliament Miles Bwalya Sampa has formally apologised to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) after admitting that his public claim about a fake tent polling station along Lilayi Road during the recent elections was incorrect.

In a statement, Mr Sampa said the ECZ had demanded an apology after it emerged that the allegation was not true.

He explained that the information had initially been brought to his attention by residents on voting day, who alleged that a tent polling station had been mounted and that voters were being ferried from Chilanga.

Mr Sampa stated that he had acted on the information after sending a Patriotic Front (PF) official to verify the claims.

According to him, the official confirmed the existence of the tent and expressed doubts because the station was not familiar from previous elections in Chawama.

“It was at that point that I blew the whistle,” Mr Sampa said.

However, he later visited the site himself and was informed by ECZ officials and police officers present that the polling station was legitimate.

He further explained that he returned to the station after polls closed to witness the counting of votes, which showed the UPND candidate leading with 74 votes, while PF candidate Bright Nundwe had seven.

Despite these results, Mr Sampa admitted he remained suspicious until results from other areas such as Misisi, Kuomboka, Chawama Central and Kuku showed strong support for Mr Nundwe.

He acknowledged that these outcomes contradicted his earlier fears.

Mr Sampa said he accepted full responsibility for misleading the public.

“Having been misled to state publicly that the tent polling station was fake and yet not as it has turned out, I take full responsibility,” he said.

He added that, in line with the ECZ’s demand and guided by his religious convictions, he had decided to apologise publicly.

“I wish to formally hereby render an apology to the ECZ,” Mr Sampa said, noting that in future he would verify such allegations directly with ECZ CEO Brown Kasaro before issuing any public statements.

All PF members, regardless of factions, must participate in general conference – Mwila

FORMER Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Davies Mwila has charged that the ongoing suspensions and removals of party officials are unconstitutional and risk weakening the former ruling party ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Mwila said the PF constitution is clear that whenever there is a vacancy in the office of party president, the party must convene a general conference in line with Article 52 to elect a substantive leader.

He explained that during such a transitional period, all suspensions are supposed to be lifted to allow every member to freely participate in the election process.

Mwila lamented that instead of preparing for a general conference, some members are being removed from their positions and others suspended, a situation he described as unfortunate and harmful to the party.

He warned that PF has about six months before the next general elections and cannot afford internal divisions at such a critical time.

The former SG further said all members, regardless of their political camps or factions, must be allowed to participate in the general conference and contest leadership positions without fear or victimisation.

Commenting on the formation of campaign committees by Brian Mundubile’s camp, Mwila said such mobilisation is normal political activity ahead of a general conference.

He explained that once a new party president is elected, whether it is Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu or Given Lubinda, all campaign structures will be disbanded and the party will move forward as one.

Mwila appealed to whoever is in the PF’s high authority to immediately withdraw suspension letters that have reportedly been issued to about 10 members.

He also called for the reinstatement of all officials who have been removed from their positions, saying this is the only way PF can heal and unite ahead of the elections.

“What is happening in the party now is unfortunate because people are being removed from their positions and others are being suspended using unconstitutional means,” Mwila said.

Mwila added that once the party elects a substantive president, PF will be in a better position to reorganise, unite its membership and chart a clear path forward.

He said all members, regardless of their political camps or factions, must be allowed to participate in the general conference and contest leadership positions without fear or victimisation.

CHIINDA DISMISSES MUUNDA’s COMPLAINT, DEFENDS NUNDWE’s CHAWAMA VICTORY

Opposition aspiring Munali Member of Parliament Chrispin Chiinda has taken a firm stance against a complaint lodged by Morgan Muunda, the losing UPND candidate in the just-ended Chawama by-elections, describing it as a weak attempt to overturn an electoral defeat through technical arguments rather than democratic acceptance.

Muunda has formally appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), calling for the withdrawal of Bright Nundwe’s nomination before his swearing-in scheduled for 15th February 2026.

In his complaint, Muunda argues that Nundwe did not qualify to contest the Chawama by-election, which was conducted using the 2021 Electoral Register, alleging that Nundwe is not registered in Lusaka Province as required by law.

He further cites Section 35 of the ECZ Act, urging the Commission to act against what he terms electoral fraud and to pronounce a lawful candidate.

Reacting sharply, Chiinda dismissed Muunda’s claims, insisting that Bright Nundwe was validly nominated and duly elected by the people of Chawama.

“Hon. Bright Nundwe has a valid voter’s card for Chawama and he voted. The nomination and election were lawful,” Chiinda said.

“We understand that it is painful to lose an election, but losing does not give anyone a licence to mislead the public or pressure institutions to reverse the will of the people.”

Chiinda questioned why Muunda, as a UPND candidate, did not raise the alleged concerns during the nomination period when the law provides clear procedures for objections.

He argued that bringing up eligibility issues only after defeat exposes what he described as political desperation and entitlement by the ruling party.

In a thinly veiled jab at the UPND, Chiinda noted the irony of a party that once championed respect for institutions now appearing eager to weaponize them when electoral outcomes do not go its way. “The ECZ is not there to heal political wounds,” he said. “Its role is to administer elections according to the law, which it has already done in Chawama.”

He further warned that Muunda’s complaint risks undermining confidence in the electoral process by suggesting, without evidence, that the Commission failed in its duties.

According to Chiinda, if Muunda genuinely believes the law was breached, the courts not press statements and public appeals remain the appropriate avenue for redress.

Sampa Mwaume writes:

As a member of Tonse Alliance Council of Leaders, am challenging the newly elected MP for Chawama to state his allegiance, if it’s to Miles Sampa who gave the PF party to Chabinga or it’s to FDD under the able leadership of SC Chifumu Banda whom Miles is referring to in this post.

I need to check the amended constitution if FDD expels the new MP for Chawama they can replace him with another person, that’s if his allegiance is not to FDD that sponsored him.

We need sobriety from Miles Sampa and his team, the people of Chawama did not vote because Miles went to campaign in Chawama. Chawama residents voted to protect the legacy of ECL and against what the ECL family has passed through at the hands of UPND government, let that sink in Miles.

Ba Bright Nundwe distance yourself from people who want to use your position for their political mileage. It’s time for you to serve the people of Chawama, otherwise you will be an 8 month MP.

ACCEPT DEFEAT AND MOVE ON — NJOBVU ADVICES UPND’S MORGAN MUUNDA OVER ECZ APPEAL

Democratic Union President Ackim Antony Njobvu has taken a swipe at the losing UPND candidate in the Chawama parliamentary by-election, Morgan Muunda, accusing him of shifting goalposts after defeat and attempting to perform duties that legally belong to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Reacting to Muunda’s public appeal for ECZ to withdraw the nomination of newly elected MP Hon. Bright Nundwe before his swearing-in on 15th February 2026, Njobvu said it was baffling that a defeated candidate had suddenly turned himself into an investigator, prosecutor and judge.

Njobvu questioned why Muunda was raising “technical issues” after the election, arguing that ECZ had already carried out its due diligence before admitting Nundwe as a duly nominated candidate.

“For ECZ to have admitted him and allowed him to contest, it means a background check was done. Why should a candidate who has lost now start doing investigations that are supposed to be done by ECZ?” Njobvu wondered.

Muunda has alleged that Nundwe did not qualify to stand in the Chawama by-election because the contest was conducted under the 2021 voters’ register and that Nundwe was allegedly not registered in Lusaka Province as prescribed by law. He further cited what he referred to as Section 35 of the ECZ Act, claiming it empowers the Commission to withdraw a nomination.

However, the Consortium for Good Governance and Constitutionalism for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Deputy Chairperson Solomon Ngoma charged that under Zambia’s legal framework, the Electoral Process Act does not empower ECZ to invalidate or cancel a parliamentary candidate’s nomination after an election has already taken place. Contrary to Muunda’s claims, the Electoral Commission of Zambia Act contains no Section 35 granting the Commission authority to withdraw a nomination on eligibility grounds after the fact.

The law is clear:
Any person dissatisfied with a nomination or an election outcome must file an election petition within 14 days, in line with Sections 100(3) and 96(1)(a) of the Electoral Process Act.

ECZ’s corrective powers are limited to correcting tabulation errors under Section 76, and even then, only within seven days after results are declared. Those powers do not extend to disqualifying candidates or reopening nominations.

On eligibility, neither the Constitution nor the Electoral Process Act expressly requires a parliamentary candidate to be registered as a voter in the constituency they are contesting. Any constitutional interpretation dispute falls under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court, not ECZ.

Njobvu therefore advised Muunda to accept political reality and move on.

“Why don’t candidates just accept that they did not win and focus on the next general election? Continuing to raise confusion over matters that are not within your mandate only exposes desperation,” he said.

The Democratic Union leader concluded by urging Muunda to concentrate on rebuilding political support rather than dragging ECZ into matters already settled by the ballot.

Chawama voted, the people decided, and the law has spoken. Accept defeat, regroup, and campaign for 2026 general elections not from the courtroom of public opinion, but on the ground.

PF URGED TO UNITE AHEAD OF AUGUST POLLS

POLITICAL Analyst Bizeck Phiri has warned that continued wrangles within the Patriotic Front risk weakening the party thereby collapsing it.

Recently Patriotic Front Presidential Aspirant Brian Mundubile withdrew his participation from the PF conclave convened by the party’s Expanded Council of Elders, citing bad faith, intimidation, and underhand maneuvers that he says undermined the integrity of the reconciliation process.

Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka, Professor Phiri expressed concern that if these fights are not addressed within the remaining seven months before the general elections the PF risks not being on the ballot papers.

Professor Phiri cited the Chawama Parliamentary by-elections as what might happen in the forthcoming election if the PF does not unite and work in one accord.

“If the PF does not address the challenges it is facing within its leaders, it will enter the August polls weakened, divided and might not add any positive to the country”, said Professor Phiri.

He expressed concern that the continued fights are not just weakening the PF but making voters lose confidence in the party.
Professor Phiri has since called on the PF members to unite and not allow their ego to destroy the party.

He has also expressed concern over continued defections of opposition party members to the ruling party, something he says shows disloyalty to the parties.

RCV

CHAWAMA RESULTS AFFIRM DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW – SIMUUWE

UPND Media Director Mr. Mark Simuuwe says the outcome of the Chawama Parliamentary by-election is a clear demonstration of Zambia’s growing democratic maturity, the rule of law, and the credibility of the country’s electoral institutions.

Speaking on Prime TV’s Media Introspection Programme, Mr. Simuuwe said the results provide an opportunity to celebrate Zambia’s democracy, despite what he described as unwarranted insults directed at Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officials by sections of the opposition.

He emphasized that the Chawama outcome proves that where the UPND wins, it does so genuinely and transparently, within a system governed by the rule of law.

Mr. Simuuwe noted that the ruling party is steadily closing the gap in constituencies it previously lost, citing areas such as Petauke Central and the recent Chawama by-election. He observed that Chawama has historically been an opposition stronghold, and the desire of the UPND was to democratically wrest a seat from the opposition through the ballot.

He revealed that since 2021, out of nine parliamentary by-elections, seven seats have gone to the UPND, reflecting growing public confidence in the ruling party.

At ward level, Mr. Simuuwe said the UPND has recorded overwhelming success, particularly in Northern Province, where the party has won 14 out of 17 ward by-elections. Nationally, he disclosed that out of 85 ward by-elections, 78 have been won by the UPND.

He stated that elections are scientific and data-driven, adding that when opposition political parties described the Lumezi by-election as a precursor to the 2026 General Election, the UPND agreed with that assessment.

Mr. Simuuwe further said that with Parliament expected to dissolve in the next four months, the UPND’s numbers are increasing even in constituencies like Chawama, both at parliamentary and presidential levels. He noted that support for President Hakainde Hichilema has significantly grown among citizens who have witnessed his leadership and governance style.

He disclosed that the UPND now has Members of Parliament in Luapula, Muchinga, and Eastern Provinces, underscoring the party’s expanding national footprint.

According to Mr. Simuuwe, a winning political party must maintain a strong secondary position in by-elections, something the UPND has consistently achieved. He added that after the era of Dr. Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba, this is the first time Zambia has had a president with a clear majority mandate since 1991.

Mr. Simuuwe also highlighted President Hichilema’s commitment to women and youth participation, noting that government has taken deliberate steps to empower these groups, including through the enactment of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7 into law.

On the energy sector, he said government is addressing load shedding through the rollout of various solar power plants, with members of the public already experiencing reduced hours of power outages. He explained that these improvements are a result of deliberate policy shifts in the energy sector.

Mr. Simuuwe further stated that President Hichilema’s recent visit to China, where Memoranda of Understanding were signed under ZESCO, is already yielding tangible results. He added that the revitalisation of TAZARA has also materialised, stressing that these developments are part of long-term government programmes and not election-driven activities.

In the mining sector, Mr. Simuuwe said the revival of mines across the country has boosted economic confidence, adding that these achievements are the result of sound governance and policy consistency.

He warned that failure to vote for the UPND would risk reversing key social and economic gains, including free education, timely payment of civil servants’ salaries, Cash for Work, Social Cash Transfer, and other progressive programmes.

Mr. Simuuwe disclosed that government is moving to make free education a statutory right, just as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has been entrenched in law. He noted that CDF has increased from K1.6 million at the time the UPND assumed office to K40 million per constituency, transforming service delivery at community level.

He reaffirmed that the UPND Media Team will continue highlighting government achievements and engaging citizens on issues of development, governance, and national progress.

TF