‘Lumezi resolved to reject oppressive UPND’
By Thandizo Banda
THE electorate in Lumezi Constituency have resolved not to allow the imingalato of United Party for National Development (UPND) which has oppressed their son Munir Zulu and thrown him in jail for political reasons, says Tonse Alliance secretary general Raphael Nakacinda.
In an interview with The Mast in Kabwe Tuesday, Nakacinda said UPND had adopted a nonentity and opportunist for the June 26 by-election.
He said the Lumezi electorate were resolved to replicate Munir Zulu by voting for Tonse Alliance candidate Goodson Banda whom he described as very popular.
“The good thing is that as opposition, God has been on our side and is working in mysterious ways. The UPND has adopted a chancer who is merely looking for a job. He previously attempted to run in Chasefu and now, instead of concentrating on his current job as district commissioner (DC) serving the good people of Lumezi in that capacity, he opts to jump the ship wanting to be member of Parliament for Lumezi Constituency,” Nakacinda said.
“So, people are asking that if really you were passionate and committed to serve the people of Chasefu, how come you have found yourself in Lumezi to be MP? Is it a job you are looking for or what? If you are passionate about Kabwe you should be consistent. Not today you want to represent the people of Kabwe tomorrow the people of Kapiri, next Mkushi and so forth. That is being opportunistic. But the politics of 2026 are not for job seekers,” he said.
Nakacinda said the people of Lumezi had resolved to vote for the Tonse Alliance candidate to end injustices and undemocratic tendencies by the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema.
“The people of Lumezi were specific during consultations on whom they wanted to represent them. They want to demonstrate their loyalty and commitment to their jailed MP, Munir Zulu, and the Tonse Alliance the Petauke formula way. They also want to prevent attempts by UPND to tamper with the republican Constitution,” he said.
“Zambians know that Munir was jailed purely for purposes of numbers.We all know the UPND’s agenda,” Nakachinda said.
The six candidates who filed their nominations for the Lumezi by-election on Tuesday are Godson Banda on the New Congress Party under the umbrella of the Tonse Alliance, UPND’s Lufeyo Ngoma and Isaiah Banda on the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) party.
Others are Nebby Manda of the Leadership Movement, Wiseman Mvula for Citizens First and Pilila Mwanza, an independent.
Voters in Lumezi would head to the polls on June 26, 2025, to decide who takes over from the imprisoned Munir Zulu
And Nakachinda has warned that Hichilema will, out of desperation, commit a lot of atrocities in the run-up to the general elections.
“Hichilema has been told by experts that he may not achieve more than 33 per cent of the votes in the forthcoming general election and this has sent him into panic mode,” he said.
He accused the UPND administration of weaponising the Judiciary by using it as a tool for oppressing opponents.
.
