SYLVIA MASEBO TUMBLES IN CHONGWE AS UPND PRIMARY CASUALTIES GROW
Another senior Cabinet Minister in President Hakainde Hichilema’s government has suffered a major setback in the ongoing UPND primary adoption elections after Lands Minister Sylvia Masebo was heavily defeated in Chongwe Constituency.
Among those reportedly facing setbacks is long-time parliamentarian and Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu, Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe who has reportedly trailed in Lusaka Central rankings.
Masebo, one of Zambia’s longest serving female politicians, was overwhelmingly beaten by political newcomer Anita Kamanga in results that have continued to expose growing internal shifts within the ruling party ahead of the August 2026 general elections.
According to results seen by Zambian Eye, Anita Kamanga dominated both ward and district rankings, collecting a total of 380 points against Masebo’s 104 points.
Below are results from all the wards and district:
Anita Kamanga- 36
Hon Sylvia Masebo- 08
DISTRICT RESULTS
Anita kamanga – 40
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 04
WARD RESULTS
Mulenje Ward
Anita Kamanga – 38
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 06
Njolwe Ward
Anita Kamanga – 40
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 04
Nchute Ward
Anita Kamanga – 39
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 05
Katoba Ward
Anita Kamanga – 36
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 08
Lwimba Ward
Anita Kamanga – 22
Hon Sylvia Masebo– 22
Manyika Ward
Anita Kamanga – 40
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 04
Mwalumina Ward
Anita Kamanga – 44
Sylvia Masebo – l0
Chalimbana Ward
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 25
Anita Kamanga- 19
Chongwe Central
Anita Kamanga – 37
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 07
Kapete Ward
Anita Kamanga – 29
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 15
Nakatindi Ward
Anita Kamanga – 36
Hon Sylvia Masebo – 08
Total Results
Anita Kamanga – 380 points
Sylvia Masebo – 104 points
This is a sign that the UPND is in trouble. If the people who led the implementation of UPND policies are unpopular with their own grassroots, what about the rest of the country? As I read my tea leaves, HH will have his work cut out. He will pay for appointing people we warned him about.
You do not understand intra-party elections, just keep quite. To the contrarily, this is a sign of a health and strong party with too many people attracted to it. Just wait for August when you shall be taught the second lesson tu PF.
Unfortunately, this may backfire terribly. In politics you need to weigh your actions carefully to ensure that you don’t carelessly burn bridges that have costed you much to consolidate.
For instance what is the rational for holding internal limited elections but also simultaneously announcing that the same elections will not be binding.
How does this strength internal processes and the very much needed alliances that were formed.
I feel thought of process was not properly put into place because the repercussions may be irrepairable from an emotional and trust level.
An example is a resignation of one of your own members who now feels he has better chance to go it on his own in chama. All because someone wanted to make a point.
Secondly , there is an unofficial app requesting citizens to vote for preffered candidates within the party. How practical is this. Unlease it is targeted only to he registered members. How will those without information on the character of the people suggested make informed decisions.
Lastly, I would like to advise that the public is actually more interested in the holistic presentation of what the party has to offer. This is your strongest selling point. Not individuals who are mostly unknown to us.
There is serious need to rethink the strategy being employed before a bigger and irrepairable relational mess happens within the party and its allies.
For instance how will those who have won the primaries feel when they are denied to go ahead due to their unpopularity or lack of support on the ground with the voters.
Is it not logical first to find out where your strengths and weaknesses on the ground are before you begin to fill in who the possible candidates are. So I really don’t understand the rationale of this academic exercise.
I think if you are not careful you are successfully undoing partnerships and internal relationships you desperately need to succeed where you lack strength on the ground. You will only manage to create angry followers internally and frustrated and untrusting allies. This is not being strategic or smart in my opinion.
The up is meant for those familiar with the competing candidates in their constituencies. You may like a candidate in a constituency which you are not registered in but you will not vote for that candidate. In short, your vote means nothing in that constituency because you will not vote there.