Kabimba says Hichilema’s discipline spared Zambia from possible lawlessness
Kabimba says Hichilema’s discipline spared Zambia from possible lawlessness
Economic Front (EF) leader Wynter Kabimba says President Hakainde Hichilema’s discipline sets him apart from other political leaders, warning that Zambia could have descended into lawlessness and conflict had the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) won the recent election.
Lusaka, 24 August – Speaking during a post-election analysis on Prime TV, Mr Kabimba said he admired President Hichilema’s discipline and questioned whether Zambians would have been better served by leaders whom he described as lacking the same quality.
Mr Kabimba singled out NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, saying he did not believe Mr Mundubile could match President Hichilema’s level of discipline and leadership
He argued that the events surrounding the election had demonstrated the potential dangers of a change in government, particularly following Mr Mundubile’s announcement that he had won the election before the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had officially declared the results.
According to Mr Kabimba, the premature declaration created an atmosphere in which some Patriotic Front (PF) youths moved into markets and bus stations in an apparent attempt to reclaim control of the facilities.
He said such developments were a reminder of the lawlessness that had characterised the previous PF administration and warned that the situation could have escalated had the opposition alliance secured victory.
Mr Kabimba said neither Mr Mundubile nor Makebi Zulu would have had the capacity to contain the disorder that could have followed a disputed transition of power.
“When you look at this situation, I can say both Makebi Zulu and Brian Mundubile would have had no capacity to quench that kind of disorder even if they had won,” he said.
He further argued that sections of the population would have resisted what they perceived as an attempt to return the PF to power, creating the possibility of widespread political violence and even civil conflict.
Mr Kabimba also criticised Mr Mundubile’s decision to declare himself the winner before the official results were announced, recalling the controversy surrounding the 2011 elections.
He maintained that declaring oneself the winner before the official announcement is an offence and said political leaders should exercise restraint while electoral authorities complete the verification and declaration process.
The EF leader also took aim at the Tonse Alliance, describing it as overly excited and lacking discipline during the election period.
He said the alliance appeared to have too many people acting as spokespersons, which, in his view, contributed to confusion and undisciplined messaging.
Mr Kabimba maintained that Mr Mundubile was never seriously close to winning the presidency and said the final election outcome was consistent with the prediction he had made before the polls.
He said the election result should therefore be viewed against the broader political and institutional circumstances surrounding the vote, rather than simply as a contest between individual candidates.
-Nkanionline 2026 #NewsOnDemand