UPND ADOPTION CHAOS: PARTY ACCUSED OF IMPOSING CANDIDATES, SIDELINING GRASSROOTS
By Zambia Barotseland Border post
Reporter,
The United Party for National Development National Management Committee has come under intense criticism following allegations of undemocratic conduct, lack of transparency, and intimidation in the ongoing adoption of candidates for the August 2026 general elections.
Investigations by Zambia Barotseland Border Post News suggest that the party’s adoption process for mayoral and parliamentary candidates has deviated significantly from earlier assurances of inclusivity and grassroots participation. The party had initially indicated that aspiring candidates would be subjected to primary elections involving constituency, district, and provincial party structures. However, recent developments indicate that these structures have allegedly been sidelined.
According to findings, aspiring candidates are now being instructed to submit their adoption applications directly to the party secretariat in Lusaka, effectively denying local party structures the opportunity to engage, assess, and select candidates of their choice. This move has raised concerns among party members, with some describing it as an attempt to impose preferred candidates from the top leadership.
Sources within the party allege that the shift in procedure is aimed at maintaining the current crop of councillors, mayors, and Members of Parliament across various constituencies, with little room for new entrants. Reports indicate that the party leadership is reluctant to adopt new candidates, opting instead to retain incumbents.
Several UPND supporters who spoke anonymously to Zambia Barotseland Border Post News condemned the process, describing it as lacking transparency and undermining internal democracy. They have since called on the party leadership to reverse the decision and allow grassroots structures to actively participate in the selection of candidates.
Meanwhile, an aspiring candidate, who also requested anonymity, raised serious concerns regarding the handling of personal documents at the party secretariat.
“We are required to submit our NRCs and Grade 12 certificates, and these documents are not returned to us. This is allegedly being done to prevent candidates from contesting as independents. This is a clear sign of dictatorship within the party,” the source claimed.
Coming back on the ground, and as a matter of fact, some Councillors, Mayors, and Members of Parliament have not worked or performed according to the expectations of the voters. Especially in Western Province, an assessment conducted by Zambia Barotseland Border Post News has established that 95% of current MPs and Mayors have lost grassroots support, and re-adopting and imposing them on the people will lead to a terrible loss, as they have not performed according to the expectations of the electorate, the people, and voters in general.
Meanwhile, some political analysts and commentators in the country earlier this year advised and warned the UPND not to handpick or impose candidates who are not wanted by the voters, because doing so will result in the UPND having fewer Members of Parliament after August 12, as people will opt to vote for independent candidates.
The political analysts said this year’s political dynamics have changed, and that people will vote for candidates they like, not because of the popularity of a political party. They say that in 2026, people will not vote for a “suit” such as UPND Councillor, UPND Mayor, or UPND Member of Parliament. It will not be like that this time around. People have changed. They will opt to vote for independent candidates whom they believe will perform well and work for them, unlike those imposed on them by the UPND National Secretariat.
They added that people will not vote for candidates simply because they are UPND Councillors, Mayors, or Members of Parliament just to create a uniformity or a “suit,” as people on the ground say. Most of these Councillors, Mayors, and Members of Parliament have not worked to the expectations of the people; they have underperformed.
As pressure mounts, the spotlight remains firmly on the UPND leadership to address the concerns raised and restore confidence in its internal electoral processes.
©️ Zambia Barotseland Border post/2026.