UPND CALLS FOR UNITY, CONDEMNS DIVISIVE TRIBAL REMARKS
UPND Condemns Divisive Remarks by PF’s Mumbi Phiri, Reaffirms Commitment to National Unity
By Wagon Media | 5th October 2025
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has expressed deep concern over remarks attributed to Patriotic Front (PF) member Mumbi Phiri, describing them as regrettable, divisive, and contrary to Zambia’s founding values of unity and equality.
In a statement issued on Sunday, UPND Deputy National Spokesperson Hon. Elvis Nkandu said the comments undermine the very foundation on which Zambia was built — the ideal of One Zambia, One Nation.
“Zambia was founded on an unshakable ideal. One Zambia, One Nation. This was not merely a slogan but a solemn pledge — a pledge that every citizen, regardless of tribe or region, would belong equally to one nation under one flag,” Hon. Nkandu said.
“To suggest that political success must depend on ethnic combinations is a betrayal of that founding vision and the sacrifices of those who came before us.”
The ruling party reaffirmed that President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration remains committed to merit-based leadership, national development, and the collective good of all Zambians — not tribal or regional politics.
“Leadership must be anchored in merit, public service and the collective good, not in tribal arithmetic. Zambia’s leadership will never be defined by tribe, but by commitment to the people,” the statement added.
“This administration will be judged by its policies — whether expanding the CDF, delivering free education, or unlocking economic growth.”
The UPND further called on all political parties, including the PF, to focus on delivering for all Zambians and refrain from rhetoric that threatens national cohesion. The party urged civil society, political leaders, and citizens to reject and condemn tribal politicking in the strongest terms.
“Our unity has been our strength for six decades, and it remains the cornerstone of our democracy and peace. Our future depends not on what divides us, but on what unites us. Together, we are moving forward as One Zambia, One Nation,” Hon. Nkandu concluded.
(C) WAGON MEDIA
Hon. Elvis Nkandu, MP
Sometimes I wonder about the dishonesty and hypocrisy which some Politicians have on what they term as Tribalism.
The only time Zambian politics structure was forced not to be tribal was during the second republic, from 1973 – 1991. And from 1991 to 2001 under the MMD.
Thereafter the Multi Party politics fractured into Tribal and Ethnic structures.. What differs is the extent the Tribal bonds have towards the various political parties..and how Politicians manipulate these bonds.
But when you look at the Political Parties in Zambia today, there’s only one Party in which Tribe and Ethnicity are Central to it’s existence…and that’s the UPND.
The UPND has Southern, Western, and North Western Provinces as it’s so called Strong Holds. What is the Factor behind the UPND ‘s very strong hold on these Provinces which it has held from 1998 to date. It’s Tribal Loyalty, and nothing else. That’s the glue which has kept these provinces in the UPND from 1998. This is the reality..in black and white.
When you look at the Patriotic Front. It started First as a Cosmopolitan Party on the Copperbelt and Lusaka Provinces. Slowly it made in roads in the Northern Part , and the Eastern Part of Zambia. How strong is the Tribal hold of these regions to the Patriotic Front? It is very weak. Politicians can talk about the North East being PF , but that’s not the reality. There’s no deliberate forcing of people to be aligned to the Patriotic Front on Tribal grounds in these regions, or is there an inherent inbuilt affinity for this .
People in these regions have an independent mind on the freedom of Association, and it’s not anchored on Tribal Affinity.
That’s why we have a lot of Political parties in these regions, and a lot of Candidates vying for the Presidency. The Tribal hold of Muchinga, Luapula, Northern, Eastern Provinces on the Patriotic Front is at the peripheral, and very very weak , and not central to it’s existence.
Even in Mpika where Michael Sata, the person who formed the Patriotic Front hails from, you won’t find that strong tribal link of people to the party. The Patriotic Front still remains a cosmopolitan party of the Copperbelt and Lusaka Provinces. This is the reality.
This is the same for the MMD and other Political Parties.
For the UPND it is a different story.
There’s a strong Correlationship between Tribe and Ethnicity and the UPND. If a scientific Study was done, from any credible Institution , be it UNZA, Harvard university, Cambridge etc they will find a Pearson Coefficient of close to +1 for this relationship.
And this relationship is statistically significant.
But some people would like us think otherwise.
Thank you.
Everything you have opened up here you have done it through a highly infectious tribal lens. So you a tribalist yourself, not just those you accuse of tribalism but yourself are included among tribalists Zambia has had. How can you say there is no tribalism from Northern region against what pipo like Mumbi Phiri has just exposed. Hey you have been used to hiding behind calling others tribal loudly. But now what comes out from Mumbi Phiri? Very very dirty toxic tribalism of the Northerners. Stinking dirty staff. Can’t even let my eyes look, or my ears hear it. So PF leadership is just for Bembas. This is not what you can try to water down. It will stick on you PF forever. And you are dead in 2026. We shall keep the video for the right time. You can’t accuse Southerners and northwesterners of tribalism when they have been voting for you since 1964. Only after seeing that you took us for a ride based on your tribalism, did Southerners and northwesterners decided to amalgamate forces against your tribalism. You can’t say that this is tribalism. You wanted them to be quiet while you refuse to vote for them for presidency. No ways. From now onwards PF is dead dead dead. We will never allow tribalists pretending to be politicians to rule this country again. No wonder this country collapsed under your presidency.
Ba UPND sure you should have just kept quiet on this one, considering that you didn’t give a statement on RATSA Boss a month ago. Apa mwa viluvianya
We have people like Kwacha NKUKU Man,Indigo and you Bean,we know are just tribalist, your hatred is there in all your writings. How many Tonga people come to write nonsense on this platform accusing other regions of tribalish? None if not at all.
You people we know you.Having stayed in Southern province I know who the real tribalist are,it us Bemba people and this is a fact. Lets not bury our heads in the sand accusing people that they are tribal. Southern,Western and North Western have always voted for Bembas,Now because there is HH It should be a problem for you to accept him? Be ashamed and accept all these tribal disseminations being perpetuated by Bemba people,YOU.Mumbi Phiri is just a drop of water in an ocean.The country has remained behind for a many years cause of people like you with a dirty mindset always point fingers at people minding their own You should be ashamed.I dont think some of you people are Zambians.Possibly with a Congolese back ground if not Tanzania just like Mwamba
The RTSA boss and Mrs. Mumbi Phiri are cut from the same cloth.
They are both tribalists.
It is a shame that no action was taken against the RTSA director.