ZAMBIANS ALREADY DECIDED
…They’re only waiting for opposition candidate – Kapwepwe
By Tony Nkhoma
ZAMBIANS have already decided to remove the United Party for National Development (UPND) and are only waiting to vote for an opposition presidential candidate in the 2026 general elections, Mulenga Kapwepwe has said.
Kapwepwe, daughter of late former vice president and freedom fighter Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, urged the opposition leaders to quickly find a single candidate whom Zambians were eagerly waiting to vote for to redeem them in the 2026 general elections.
“Let us unite and find a leader. Let’s go forward and go to the elections with selflessness, like I think of the people who created the MMD,” Kapwepwe said.
She said the opposition should not be fragmented.
There was no need to float 11 opposition presidential candidates.
“It’s a different dynamic. So in this, we have to consider the current political environment and be strategic. If we are so fragmented, it will be very difficult for anyone to get that 60 plus 1,” Kapwepwe said.
Kapwepwe told The Mast in an interview Zambians were waiting to see their chosen opposition presidential candidate who they wanted to rally behind.
“But I think what is important also is the opposition, whoever they choose, must be someone who has the least vulnerabilities. So it must be a candidate who has the least vulnerabilities in terms of litigation, in terms of whatever, financial scandals, anything that makes them vulnerable,” Kapwepwe said.
She appealed to opposition political parties to remain selfless and go for only one non-vulnerable candidate.
“We must acknowledge ourselves and step aside so selflessly. We need to identify who can serve best and who is in a position to really do the work. Let’s consider those things as politically active political actors,” Kapwepwe said.
She said the opposition had no choice but to sacrifice a single candidate for the 2026 general elections.
“I think let’s sacrifice this one time and let one person lead and let’s go into this election strong and united. So that’s one thing. I think I would say to the opposition’s political parties that let’s sort ourselves out,” she said.
Kapwepwe said the people of Zambia are eagerly waiting for a strong opposition front.
“This is the worry of the people. Who are we going to vote for? So let us think as people, find one for all the political parties. Find a leader, the people are ready and they know what they want,” Kapwepwe said.
She said Zambians were eagerly waiting to see a united opposition front in 2026 urging the opposition to take advantage of the UPND’s lack of popularity.
“So, let’s go forward, Zambians are ready to state what they want and we have to give them what they want in 2026 to ultimately choose. Let us give them a choice that they can point at and choose and say ‘this is the way we want to go’,” Kapwepwe said.
