ADRIAN BANDA HAS STRONG CHANCE IN MANDEVU – KALAMBALALA
Adrian Banda’s childhood friend and fellow Catholic, Bartholomew Kalambalala, has described him as a grassroots politician with strong prospects of winning the Mandevu Constituency parliamentary election scheduled for November 5 if adopted by the UPND.
Mr Kalambalala said Mr Banda’s political journey demonstrated commitment to serving communities, arguing that he was not a political tourist but someone who had lived among ordinary people.
He said Mr Banda grew up in Chipata Compound and understood the challenges facing residents in low-income communities.
“He is a Chipata Compound boy,” Mr Kalambalala said.
He explained that Mr Banda entered politics in 2011 as a UPND councillor candidate for Raphael Chota Ward but lost without abandoning politics.
Mr Kalambalala said in 2016, Mr Banda initially sought to contest the Mpulungu Ward councillorship but moved to Ngwerere after Hon Christopher Shakafuswa returned to contest the ward.
“He did not refuse; he shifted, he moved and lived with the people of Ngwerere for 10 years,” he said.
According to Mr Kalambalala, Mr Banda subsequently served as Ngwerere Ward councillor for a decade, gaining experience in addressing challenges such as poor roads, inadequate water supply and youth unemployment.
“He became Ngwerere. He served Ngwerere as Councillor for 10 years,” Mr Kalambalala said.
He further said Mr Banda contested the 2026 Mandevu parliamentary election as an independent candidate before the Electoral Commission of Zambia suspended the election and called for a fresh poll.
Mr Kalambalala said Mr Banda’s return to the UPND could combine his personal support base with the party vote.
“If UPND adopts him, he has a 90 percent chance to win,” he said.
He, however, warned that Mr Banda would need to address questions about his development record and manage possible political competition within the UPND.
“Mandevu needs a Chipata Compound boy who shifted to Ngwerere and lived with the people,” Mr Kalambalala said.
He said he therefore supported Mr Banda’s potential candidature in the November 5 election.
“I support him,” Mr Kalambalala said.