We’ll give UPND the Dundumwezi formula-Chipata traders
By Ludia Ngwadzai in Chipata
SATURDAY Market traders in Chipata have vowed to deliver a Dundumwezi-style result against the UPND in August, pledging 100 per cent voter turnout for Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance leader Brian Mundubile.
This comes after police blocked the Tonse-Pamodzi mega rally last Saturday.
Speaking to The Mast at the market during a night campaign meeting, the traders said the will of the people would prevail over the United Party for National Development’s (UPND) imingalato.
“Mundubile should expect 100 percent voter turnout from Eastern Province. This we shall fulfill. The way they vote in Dundumwezi, we’ll do it here too. It is Dundumwezi formula in Eastern Province,” Joseph Banda addressed traders.
Iredy Tembo, a trader at the market, said she believed Mundubile would restore Zambia’s economic order.
Tembo also criticised the UPND’s free education policy, arguing that while the idea was good, implementation had been poor as it had proved a failure.
“Free education that the UPND brags about is adding to illiteracy levels among children. Our Children cannot read or write. The only thing that exists is a name that our children are at school,” she said.
Tembo said quality education cannot be achieved in a class of over a 100 pupils in a single class in schools in town.
“A teacher cannot teach over 100 pupils in one classroom. There is need to employ more teachers. Some children sit on the floor. Even marking children’s books is a problem,” he said.
Misozi Daka explained that the UPND-led government was a failed project whose focus was only on ‘killing’ political parties at the expense of service delivery.
Daka said Zambians were frustrated, warning that no police brutality or blocking the opposition rallies would stop the change of government in August.
“Even if they use guns, police to brutalise us, we have already decided that Hakainde is going. Let them allow us to choose our leaders freely. We will do what they know, they have taught us and we shall give them the Dundumwezi formula,” she said.
Meanwhile, small-scale farmers in Chipata called for urgent reforms in the agriculture sector, saying the challenges outlined by Mundubile at his Petauke rally on Friday reflect the daily reality farmers experience in Eastern Province.
Thomas Banda, who grows maize and groundnuts, said late fertiliser delivery, low market prices and poor water accessibility were crippling rural households.
“What Mundubile said in Petauke is true, the challenge is fertiliser. People need fertiliser. We aren’t given enough fertiliser, and it comes late and we are made to share pambale [on a plate], and it comes late, by the time it arrives, the rains have already started,” he said.
Banda welcomed Mundubile’s pledge that each farmer would receive a full Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) pack under his government.
“June is almost ending, the government hasn’t announced the maize floor price for 2026-2027 marketing season,” he said.
Mundubile pledged sweeping reforms in agriculture, water and civil service if elected into office in August.
