Mundubile wins hearts of Nyimba, Katete farmers, youth
By Ludia Ngwadzai
THE National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity(NRPUP) president Brian Mundubile has pledged sweeping reforms for the benfit of farmers and small-scale miners in Nyimba and Katete districts in Eastern Province.
Mundubile yesterday accused the United Party for National Development (UPND) government of neglecting both the farmers and the youth.
Addressing residents at separate massive campaign rallies for the August 13 general elections in the two districts, he condemned the arrest of youths for mining gold in Luembe area.
“Many youths in Luembe are in prison. They had no jobs, had no food, and used initiative with God-given talents to go and dig gold, but were arrested,” Mundubile said.
“The UPND went to trouble and arrested the youth, but that will come to an end. A government of light is coming to help the people,” Mundubile assured the jubilant crowd.
He promised training in environmental protection, safe mining and financial management.
Mundubile said his administration would equip youths with safe tools.
“Our government will sort out small-scale mining,” he said.
On agriculture, he said the current administration was failing farmers.
“We will give eight bags of fertiliser to each farmer, no more medas of fertiliser,” he said, promising to end small, inadequate allocations.
He said the challenges faced by cotton and soya bean farmers would also be addressed under his leadership.
“My interest is to see my farmers not in distress,” he said, noting farming was Nyimba’s and Katete’s main source of livelihood.
Mundubile accused the UPND of delaying payments to farmers.
“Some farmers died in queues waiting for their money, for the maize they sold to FRA [Food Reserve Agency],” he said.
“Zambian people need to eat three times a day.”
He pledged timely input delivery, investment in value addition industries and upgrades to health infrastructure and roads.
On water shortages, which he blamed on load shedding, Mundubile promised boreholes and water tanks.
“We will supply our nation before we supply it [electricity] to other countries,” he said.
Commenting on Zambia’s national reserves, Mundubile questioned UPND’s brag about the reserves when the citizens were grappling with poverty.
“What are the reserves for when Zambians are wallowing in poverty? He asked.
Speaking in an interview with The Mast, Development activist Ackim Simwewa said Mundubile is tapping into how voters judge governments across Africa when he spoke about the reserves.
Simwewa said Brian Mundubile was describing a political reality often ignored in academic discussions.
“In many elections, voters respond more strongly to immediate lived conditions food prices, jobs, fuel costs, and household pressure than to macroeconomic indicators like reserves or inflation trends.”
He said this is not ignorance but lived reality.
“Macro stability only becomes politically meaningful when it is felt in daily life.
Otherwise, people judge governments based on what they experience, not what is reported in economic briefs,” he said.
“You can quote reserves all day, but if the cost of living doesn’t reflect that stability, the message won’t land,” Simwewa said.
“In politics, perception backed by daily reality beats theory every time.”
He said Mundubile’s messaging shows the opposition understands voter priorities.
“Go talk to people about reserves and see the response,” he said.
