Press Statement for Immediate Release
05/09/26.
LUSAKA.
Fellow Zambians, Tonse Alliance has learnt with shock and sadness the decision of the Bemba Royal Establishment’s abrupt cancellation of the 2026 Ukusefya Pangwena Festival.
The cancellation of the festival by the BRE on account that the Mood in the bembaland ( Ulubemba) is not conducive, is not only saddening but testament that there is high tension in the nation and that deep divisions need to be addressed and not merely grossed over as unimportant.
Ukusefya Pangwena is a very important ceremony which brings not only bembas together but people of all cultures and rejuvenates the heritage reinforcement which is handed over to generations.
As Tonse Alliance we wish to urge the government to take serious responsibility of how affairs for the citizens are managed. This cancellation of the 2026 of Ukusefya Pangwena can’t be treated as an isolated incident but is part of the many incidents which demonstrates that Zambia has become strange to Zambians.
The timing and reason which the BRE has given, concides with the disputed Elections which we recently held , the various concerns raised by international partners such as the UN repporteur on freedom of assembly and Association which UPND and government officials have been trying to trivialize as well as the concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRCZ) who have demanded for the immediate release of all political prisoners.
Hence , as Tonse, we wish to once again condemn the response statements by Hon Mwiimbu, the Foreign Affairs Office and that of the Attorney General as insensitive, immature and irresponsible. The responses to serious concerns which citizens and institutions such as UN repporteur have raised requires mature and sober responses and not what UPND and the AGs Offices are doing by defending bad records wrongly and blindly.
As Tonse, we Maintain that the governance system in this country has broken down and there is serious erosion of constitutional safeguards and the rule of law. This requires serious reflection by the government and all stakeholders.
The Tonse Alliance advise to President Hichilema is that , let the President not be misled by individuals seeking to keep their jobs and have no interest of the nation at heart. President Hichilema is head of state and not just UPND President who must make choices which are in the interest of the nation as opposed to appeasing UPND supporters.
Let President Hichilema listen from people like his Legal Advisor Mr Christopher Mundia, who agreed with him that Zambia belongs to everyone including those who voted for him and against. That we need to unity and speak development.
Our advise to President Hichilema to put the interest of the nation first, should not in anyway be misinterpreted by UPND members such as Mark Simuuwe and many others to mean that Tonse Alliance is weak NO. Rather our advise is based on shared beliefs and true patriotism that Zambia is greater than all of us.
We know that our Leaders are innocent and we are not seeking an easy way out of the current standoff but genuinely embracess the various calls for dialogue and unity by the church and others.
Issued by
Anthony Chibuye
Deputy Spokesperson
Tonse Alliance/FDD.