A POLITICAL DISPUTE HAS SURFACED IN KAFULAFUTA CONSTITUENCY AFTER ASPIRING PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE BENSON MATOWE RESIGNED FROM THE RULING UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND) AND ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CONTEST THE AUGUST 13, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE.
IN A RESIGNATION LETTER DATED MAY 19, 2026, MR. MATOWE STATED THAT HE LEFT THE PARTY AFTER ALLEGEDLY BEING OVERLOOKED DURING THE ADOPTION PROCESS DESPITE CLAIMING VICTORY IN THE CONSTITUENCY PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT HE WON IN ALL WARDS EXCEPT ONE DURING THE PARTY’S INTERNAL ELECTIONS BUT WAS NOT ADOPTED AS THE OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.
MR. MATOWE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE PARTY’S DECISION, ARGUING THAT HE HAD SPENT YEARS MOBILISING SUPPORT FOR BOTH HIMSELF AND THE UPND IN KAFULAFUTA SINCE 2017.
HE QUESTIONED THE PARTY’S COMMITMENT TO LOYAL MEMBERS, SAYING THE DECISION LEFT HIM WITH NO OPTION BUT TO SEEK ELECTION AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE.
HE FURTHER ALLEGED THAT HE FAILED TO OBTAIN OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR RECEIPTS CONFIRMING HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE PARTY.
