MSONI DISPUTES HICHILEMA’S ELECTION VICTORY AS CHURCH CALLS FOR UNITY
MSONI DISPUTES HICHILEMA’S ELECTION VICTORY AS CHURCH CALLS FOR UNITY:
All People’s Congress (APC) president Nason Msoni has disputed President Hakainde Hichilema’s victory in the August general election, claiming that opposition leader Brian Mundubile was the actual winner and warning that unresolved electoral grievances could resurface in 2031.
Msoni, who is a member of the Tonse Alliance Council of Presidents, made the remarks in a video posted on his Facebook page.
He said the country remained politically polarised because, in his view, the declared election outcome did not reflect the actual result of the vote.
“Well, the current political situation or polarisation in the country is extremely depressing because the trouble is that by now all of us know that Mr Hichilema did not win this election,” Msoni said.
He alleged that institutions responsible for safeguarding the Constitution had become involved in the electoral process, thereby contributing to concerns over the credibility of the outcome.
Msoni also pointed to the detention of Mundubile on treason charges, arguing that the opposition leader should instead be recognised as the winner of the election.
“So, now here is a situation where you have a man who did not win the election and the true winner of the election is behind bars. He has been charged with treason,” he said.
He warned that failure to address the allegations surrounding the election could result in similar disputes during the next general election in 2031.
“If we don’t address this question of a stolen election, it means that even in 2031, this question is bound to repeat itself. It’s bound to repeat itself, unfortunately,” he said.
Msoni called for a definitive resolution to the dispute, suggesting that those who did not win should make way for either a rerun or fresh elections, or allow what he described as the legitimate winner to assume office.
His comments came as Catholic clergy called on Zambians to put the election behind them and focus on peace, reconciliation and national development.
Chipata Catholic Diocese Judicial Vicar Father Evans Miti urged citizens to accept President Hichilema as the country’s leader and move forward despite political differences.
Speaking during a Mass at St Eugene’s Sub-Parish, Fr Miti said Zambia needed peace and unity to achieve meaningful development.
He urged Zambians to pray for the President, Members of Parliament, mayors, chiefs and councillors.
Fr Miti said citizens should acknowledge the election as having been conducted under free and fair conditions and accept the outcome.
He also appealed to political leaders to work together and urged the Government to listen to citizens, including those who did not vote for the ruling party.
“We are moving ahead. We have a government in place. This is not the time for us to begin bickering or talking unnecessarily,” he said.
Fr Miti further called for genuine dialogue and reconciliation, saying Zambians should resolve their differences among themselves rather than rely on outside organisations.
His call was echoed at St Atanazio Catholic Parish, where Fr Mark Mwanza said the Church remained concerned about political divisions and encouraged Christians to become instruments of peace in their homes, communities and workplaces.
Fr Wilson Tembo, the parish youth chaplain and main celebrant, also urged Christians not to measure God’s generosity or people’s circumstances through comparisons of who had suffered or worked longer.
The contrasting statements highlight the continuing disagreement over the August election, with Msoni and his political allies disputing the declared outcome while Catholic clergy are urging citizens to accept the existing political order and concentrate on reconciliation, peace and national development.