SOUTHERN PROVINCE THE ONLY ONE-PARTY PROVINCE IN ZAMBIA
Muhabi Lungu says over two decades, Southern Province has uniquely remained a political enclave where the United Party for National Development (UPND) dominates uncontested.
This enduring single-party hold sets Southern apart as a “one-party province,” a phenomenon that says less about the people and more about the political dynamics imposed by the ruling party itself.
He says that while UPND’s influence is undeniable, the methods securing this monopoly raise profound concerns about the state of democracy in the region.
The UPND’s persistent stranglehold in Southern Province, reportedly reinforced by tactics that stifle opposition, undermine the democratic rights of citizens to freely choose their leaders
Allegations of intolerance—including discouragement of independent candidates and suppression of alternative parties—suggest a political environment where diversity of thought and competition are unwelcome, fostering a climate of fear and exclusion rather than robust democratic engagement.
Lungu says that such behavior is not only a disservice to the province’s electorate but also isolates Southern Province politically and socially from the broader national narrative.