HH’s phone call heal rift
……as Joseph Phiri backs down for Frank Tayali in Ndola Central constituency parley race
By DAVID KANDUZA
FORMER District Commissioner (DC) for Ndola and Kalulushi Joseph Phiri has revealed that a telephone call from President Hakainde Hichilema has set a chain of events into motion leading to his U-turning and withdrawing as aspiring parliamentary independent candidate for Ndola Central.
Mr Phiri at a press briefing in Ndola June 8, 2026, disclosed that he had an incredibly heavy and intense conversation to experience with the Republican President who made him regret stepping away from UPND the party he poured his sweat and history into.
“The President called me on the phone and asked me. HH of Ndola why do you want to leave your party. He personally appealed to me to return to the party and continue working together with the UPND parliamentary candidate,” he revealed.
Mr Phiri said having the leader of the party call him out directly meant a lot and decided to take a step back.
“I have made this decision after careful consideration and consultation with my supporters. Our focus must remain on delivering development and improving the lives of the people of Ndola Central. I therefore fully endorse Hon. Frank Tayali and urge all those who have been supporting me to give him their support,” he said.
He said as a dedicated party member of UPND, the moment of a telephone conversation with President Hichilema felt overwhelming and urgently needed to respond to the President and didn’t need time to process but to withdraw his candidature immediately.
Mr Phiri had initially chosen to run as an independent candidate—campaigning under his popular grassroots slogan ‘Local is Laka’ after the UPND National Management Committee left him out of the adoption process and chose imediate past Minister of Transport and Logistic Frank Tayali instead.
To pursue the parliamentary seat for the 2026 general elections, Mr Phiri had voluntarily resigned from his public service role as Kalulushi District Commissioner in January 2026.
By rescinding his decision to stand as an independent, he had pledged to reconcile with the ruling party structure ahead of the upcoming legislative elections.