UPND HASN’T BEEN WINNING
…Money won’t work in 2026, says M’membe
By George Zulu
THE ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is deceiving itself that it is popular when its popularity has dwindled to its lowest, says the Socialist Party (SP).
SP 2026 presidential hopeful Dr Fred M’membe said it was shocking that a party that did not have money in 2021 now has more money to dish out aimlessly to buy fake victories by-elections.
Featuring on Prime Television’s Oxygen of Democracy Monday edition, Dr M’membe said he was not worried about the victories the UPND recorded during the by-elections.
“It doesn’t worry me because I know that the UPND has not been winning these by-elections, maybe save certain regions. They have been purchasing the by-elections,” he said.
Dr M’membe said the UPND was buying off by-elections by dishing out money, food and other items.
“They are giving them fertilisers and so many other things. So, these have not been elections. They have simply been purchasing these elections. When it’s very difficult, they resort to violence. Almost in every election, we have had our vehicles smashed,” he said.
Dr M’membe said it was sad that the UPND was deceiving itself that it was popular when people lost interest in it years ago.
“So, the UPND is deceiving itself to say they have been winning. How they will sustain this going forward in a general election I don’t know. But even now, their victories are difficult. In these ones, people are starting to take the money and not vote for them in some cases,” he said.
And Dr M’membe said it was shocking that a party that did not have money in 2021 has funds to dish out to people during by-elections.
He said the money the UPND was fronting during the by-elections was never there in 2021.
“They have too much money now. The money they never had in 2021. In a small ward by-election, you count the number of what I would say government motor vehicles, because they remove the number plates and move with the vehicles just like that. The police can’t touch them as they have become untouchable.
Dr M’membe warned Zambians against allowing the UPND to use money to remain in power.
“What we are simply telling people is where leadership is bought, know that society is gone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr M’membe says change is coming next year because Zambians are resolved to remove the UPND from government.
He said the change of government did not depend on the will of a political party but on the people.
He said any genuine regime change was people-driven and not decided by a political party.
“The changes take place because of the people. MMD was registered as a political party in December 1990, when they (UNIP) repealed Article 4 that restricted political pluralism. From December to October, it’s just about nine months. They won. The people know what they want. It doesn’t matter what propaganda is put up. It’s not the strength of the parties that usually win. In 1990, the MMD was very disorganised. So, it’s up to what the people want. If the people want to change, it will come. Nothing can stop that,” he said.
Dr M’membe also said unity was important, not only to win elections, but to carry out the transformation society required.
He said politicians were not the only leaders who should seek unity, but every citizen.
“These changes cannot be carried by a small band of people calling themselves this or that. The transformations required all of you, including you people in the media. The politician alone cannot do it without yourselves and these other leaders,” Dr M’membe said.
