Unite for the sake of the people, opposition urged
By Tony Nkhoma
IF THE opposition does not form a strong and united front, corruption in the country will reach alarming levels and people will suffer and die, Dr Lawrence Mwelwa has said.
Dr Mwelwa, a politician, academician and entrepreneur, said to ensure fair elections in the 2026 general elections, a united opposition should protect the vote and prevent rigging or intimidation.
He urged opposition political leaders in the country to heed to Zambia We Want spokesperson Muhabi Lungu’s warning that democracy in Zambia was at risk.
A strong and united opposition was needed to liberate Zambia in the 2026 general elections.
“In Zambia, we have chosen a multiparty system. That means we need not only a ruling party but also a strong opposition to make sure power is balanced,” Dr Mwelwa said.
He said this in his write-up ‘Muhabi Lungu’s Hard Truth: Why Unity is the Opposition’s Only Path to Survival’.
Dr Mwelwa said in any democracy government and the opposition were like two wings of the same bird. If one wing was weak or broken, the bird could not fly.
He said without a strong opposition, leaders could become careless, corruption could grow and the people would suffer.
He said that was why unity among opposition parties was important.
Dr Mwelwa said Zambia needed a strong and united opposition to keep the government accountable.
Without the opposition asking hard questions, those in power could misuse resources freely.
“To fight corruption, a strong opposition helps expose corruption and ensures leaders know someone is watching. To protect democracy, if the opposition is weak or divided, Zambia risks sliding into one-party rule where only one voice is heard,” Dr Mwelwa said.
He said to speak for the voiceless, ordinary people needed someone to defend them when the government ignored their struggles.
A strong, united opposition was key to helping stop abuse of power.
Dr Mwelwa said a divided opposition made it easy for ruling leaders to do whatever they wanted without fear.
He said Zambia needed a strong opposition not because it hated the government but because democracy could not survive without it.
“Unity is not about removing one leader at all costs. It is about protecting the system, protecting the people and ensuring that power always serves the nation, not a few individuals,” Dr Mwelwa said.
He advised the opposition that it was no longer a matter of personal ambition but about survival.
“If unity fails, the people’s hope will be betrayed again, and Zambia risks sliding deeper into the abyss of disillusionment and authoritarian drift. Muhabi’s warning is not just political arithmetic; it is a revolutionary call to arms,” Dr Mwelwa said.
He said the opposition should unite because the time for lone heroes was over.
“The time for collective sacrifice is now. If unity is not achieved, then history will remember today’s opposition not as liberators, but as selfish men and women who sold the future for a few pieces of silver,” Dr Mwelwa said.
