FELLOW ZAMBIANS, EVEN US, WE WON’T PARTICIPATE IN ANY BY ELECTIONS AT THE MOMENT, YOU WON’T SEE ANT LAMPI SYMBOL, SAYS NRPUP
FELLOW ZAMBIANS, EVEN US, WE WON’T PARTICIPATE IN ANY BY ELECTIONS AT THE MOMENT, YOU WON’T SEE ANT LAMPI SYMBOL, SAYS NRPUP
The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) has pulled out of the November 5 by-elections in Mandevu and Lumezi North Constituencies, as well as the Mbala mayoral election—leaving the party out of several races it had initially shown interest in contesting.
NRPUP Secretary General Nonde Mubanga confirmed the withdrawal, attributing the decision to financial constraints and internal wrangles. The party has since formally notified the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) through a letter dated October 7, 2026.
The development comes just as nominations are being conducted for the November 5 polls. The ECZ says it has communicated NRPUP’s decision to the affected District Electoral Officers, meaning the party’s candidates and adoption certificates cannot proceed under the NRPUP banner in the affected contests.
The decision has triggered plenty of discussion among members of the public, with some observers humorously questioning how a party can enter the electoral race only to “check the price of the race and walk away.” Others say the withdrawal highlights the financial pressure smaller political parties face when trying to compete in multiple elections, while the reported internal wrangles could further complicate their ability to organise and campaign effectively.
Politically, the immediate impact is that NRPUP will have no candidate representing it in the Mandevu parliamentary race or the Mbala mayoral contest. In Lumezi North, however, the situation is more complicated because the ECZ had previously indicated that NRPUP was the party required to file a fresh nomination following the death of its candidate, Clement Mwale.
For voters, the withdrawal means fewer party choices in some of the contests and potentially changes the political dynamics of the campaigns. The November 5 elections will include the Mandevu and Lumezi North parliamentary by-elections, the Mbala mayoral election and 11 ward elections across the country.
While NRPUP says money problems and internal disagreements are behind its decision, the public debate is now likely to focus on whether the withdrawal is simply a financial survival strategy, an organisational setback, or part of a wider political calculation. For now, the party appears to have decided that, when it comes to these by-elections, the best campaign strategy is not to campaign at all.