UPND LODGES COMPLAINT AGAINST PATRICK TEMBO BANDA FOR ALLEGED IMPERSONATION
April 8-2026
Lusaka -The United Party for National Development (UPND) has officially lodged a complaint against Patrick Tembo Banda at the Zambia Police Service Headquarters for allegedly impersonating the party president and misrepresenting himself as the legitimate leader of the ruling political party.
UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe said Mr. Banda has been masquerading as UPND president while issuing statements on social media that risk misleading party members and the general public about the party’s legitimate leadership and internal processes.
Mr. Simuuwe disclosed in Lusaka on Wednesday that the complaint was formally lodged against Mr. Banda and members of his team, including Charles Longwe and Charles Kakula, whom he accused of actively participating in actions that undermine the party’s established leadership structures.
He explained that Mr. Banda had previously left the UPND and only renewed his membership a few months ago, making his current claims to leadership both irregular and inconsistent with the party’s internal rules.
Mr. Simuuwe stated that Mr. Banda does not qualify to contest any party position because he has not been consistently renewing his party membership card as required by the party constitution, which clearly outlines eligibility conditions for aspiring leaders.
He emphasized that the UPND has a well-structured constitution with clearly defined procedures that guide how members can ascend to leadership positions, including the presidency, through democratic and transparent party electoral processes.
Mr. Simuuwe further noted that Hakainde Hichilema remains the duly elected president of the UPND and the legitimately elected Republican President of Zambia following the party’s established internal processes and the national electoral mandate.
He added that the matter involving Mr. Banda and his interim team of alleged impersonators has now been handed over to law enforcement officers, who are expected to investigate the allegations thoroughly and handle the case in accordance with the laws of the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Banda recently declared himself Interim UPND president and alleged that the current party elections taking place are illegal, claiming that the tenure of the National Management Committee expired in February, a position that the party leadership has since been dismissed as unfounded and misleading.
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