Tonse Alliance secretary general Dr Chris Zumani Zimba has taken the unusual step of publicly defying elements within his own coalition, insisting he will not be pressured into abandoning his calls for dialogue with President-elect Hakainde Hichilema’s government.
Speaking to The Mast, Zimba said he was aware some Tonse Alliance stalwarts had sidelined him over his stance, but remained unmoved.
“If this is betrayal in the eyes of political hardliners and extremists, then let it be. I’m sober-minded and politically professional. I cannot dance to the views of radical politicians,” he said.
Zimba, a former aide for political affairs to the late President Edgar Lungu, said he rejected what he called the hardline school within the alliance that favours continuous court petitions and confrontation with government.
His reasoning is rooted in what he describes as the human toll of the post-election period. He cited reported detentions, citizens forced into hiding, and the death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya as evidence that Zambia can ill afford further political tension.
“Zambia is bleeding and divided. What we need now is political healing, not more political tensions,” he said.
Perhaps most striking is his call for continued restraint at the very top of the political divide. Zimba said further confrontation between President Hichilema and Tonse Alliance leader Brian Mundubile would serve no one, urging both men to prioritise the country’s peace and stability.
That appeal lands at an especially sensitive moment. Mundubile was charged with treason days ago and is now being held at Mukobeko Maximum Security Facility in Kabwe, alongside 17 others, on a charge that carries no provision for bail.
Despite the tension this creates within his own party, Zimba was unequivocal about where he stands. “I am proud of my position of calling for a political ceasefire, dialogue, reconciliation and a government of national unity between UPND and the Tonse Alliance,” he said.
He described his position as grounded in his professional background as a political scientist and post-election conflict expert, as well as his identity as “a Christian and patriot.”
Zimba’s comments come as religious leaders, including Bishop Joseph Kazhila, have separately urged Zambians to reject confrontational politics ahead of tomorrow’s presidential inauguration, adding to a chorus of voices calling for calm during one of the most tense periods in the country’s recent political history.
The sober-minded political professional is completely off the mark, very hungry for power and a learner in politics. Dialogue on what? Let those who are alledged to have committed crimes be tried. We have been having elections since the 1960’s and the pattern and the constitutional provision is the the winner forms government. There are no negotiations for government positions. Otherwise why should I waste my vote if after I vote there are negotiations? In other countries candidates can lose with their tens in millions, still they are out, no dialogue. HH lost by less than 200,000 votes in 2016, no dialogue. Where is this dialogue nonsense coming from? Hunger not to wait 5 years?
This boy is now desperate and scared. He is not even a tested politician but a mere chancer. He is now looking to eat with UPND. They too must be very careful. Wherever this boy is there is chaos. PF is crying NPRUP is crying. UPND be careful. This chap has bad omen…Kali na minyama ka guy aka. How can he be a grounded Political Scientist when he can’t even understand what the law says about forming government. Passing an exam doesn’t mean knowledge acquisition. Moreso he got his PHD in an era of outsourcing writers and leakages….who knows. He has already forgotten how much he was insulting HH and the UPND. Welcome to reality bwana. Brace for another 5 years.
Chris Zumani Zimba should start dialoguing with his own Tonse Alliance leading lights first. If they won’t even talk to Zumani Zimba, how can they possibly talk to HH? The other issue is that Zumani Zimba is calling for dialogue through the media. He should make an effort to meet his own Tonse Alliance leadership and try to persuade them.
I don’t understand Zumani Zimba’s thinking, we are just from holding elections where some people won and others lost. In addition to that those who lost but wanted to win the elections at all cost involved themselves in activities which are tantamount to treason. They were arrested and are not even tried yet. Through the same activities, a former Cabinet Minister was shot dead. So I don’t know what dialogue we need in such a situation because an election is a competition where there are always winners and losers. And after the competition, you simply disperse, you don’t need any dialogue at all, to those who have lost, it’s hard luck, let them try again in 2031. Those who have won, they need to be given chance now to form and organize their government and start working for development of the country. There is absolutely no need for any dialogue here. To those who committed crime in an effort to obtain power by unlawful means should face the law regardless of who they are or what tribe they are, that’s what democracy demands. I don’t even know how the UPND party and government can sit down to dialogue with people who lost an election and who wanted to commit crime targeting the same UPND members. Hakainde is on record having lost five times before he finally made it in 2021, we never saw or heard any calls for dialogue after all those five losses. But this time around, after BM and MZ have lost after their first attempt, ati we need to dialogue, if I may ask, dialogue on what? Do you need dialogue for defeating your competitor? The answer is big no. Apa ni sela tubombe ko. Working and not dialogue starts now, suppose UPND had lost, I don’t think anyone could have asked for dialogue, let’s not divert attention from important matters.
Zumani sit down . You are making noise!