THE UPND PROPAGANDA AND THE REALITY OF UNOPPOSED PARLIAMENTARY SEATS
For the past two months, the United Party for National Development (UPND) touted a narrative suggesting their dominance in Zambia’s political landscape was uncontestable.
Central to this claim was the assertion that they had secured 72 parliamentary seats unopposed, effectively shutting down any real opposition ahead of the August elections.
This message aimed to create a perception of overwhelming inevitability, potentially demoralizing opposition parties and their supporters.
However, the official figures from the Electoral Commission of Zambia tell a markedly different story.
According to their public announcement, only seven (7) National Assembly seats have been declared unopposed, a figure far removed from the UPND’s claim.
This discrepancy has significantly altered the political dynamics, exposing the overreach in the UPND’s messaging and injecting renewed vigor into opposition campaigns.
The UPND’s inflated figure implied near-total control over the parliamentary landscape, but the Electoral Commission’s figures reveal a far more competitive environment.
This reality underscores that many constituencies remain fiercely contested, with the opposition fielding credible candidates who stand a genuine chance in the upcoming polls.