Mundubile blames subdued campaigns on lack of money
National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile says the low-key nature of this year’s election campaigns is largely due to a lack of money among both politicians and ordinary citizens.
Lusaka, 8 June – Speaking on BM8 Unfiltered, Mundubile said campaign activities ahead of the August elections had failed to generate the excitement seen during previous election cycles because many candidates were struggling financially.
He said the contrast with the 2016 and 2021 elections was evident.
“If you compare 2021 or 2016 around this time, the activity levels were much higher. People were excited in the streets, dancing and campaigning. The mood now is very different,” Mundubile said.
According to the opposition leader, the economic situation has left many aspiring leaders without the resources needed to run vibrant campaigns.
“Many people today have no money to spend, including the candidates. Most candidates actually have no money to spend because there is simply no money in the economy,” he said.
Mundubile also argued that some supporters were reluctant to openly participate in campaign activities because they feared possible repercussions.
He claimed that even young people who enjoy his campaign song, “Bengile”, were hesitant to play it in public.
“I know of one young man, a nephew of mine, who likes the new BM8 and MZ8 Bengile song. He may not be free to play that song on the street for fear of being arrested. Many other youths are in that position,” he said.
The NRPUP candidate expressed optimism that campaign activity would increase as polling day approaches, saying candidates would likely mobilise more resources and supporters would gain confidence to participate more openly.
Mundubile also defended the campaign song, which has attracted public debate and scrutiny from authorities.
Describing it as “a very beautiful song”, he said he was surprised by the controversy surrounding it.
“I rarely dance, but when that song plays, I find myself dancing. That may be the case with many other people across the country,” he said.
He added that the song carried a strong political message and reflected what he described as growing support for himself and his running mate, Makebi Zulu.
Mundubile further accused government officials of being uncomfortable with the song and attempting to restrict its circulation.
He questioned concerns raised about its content, saying he had failed to identify any offensive language in the track.
“I have tried to understand the song and see which parts of it are offensive. Maybe I’m biased, but I don’t see anything offensive in it,” he said.
The August elections are expected to intensify in the coming weeks as political parties step up efforts to reach voters across the country.
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