MUNDUBILE’S JOURNEY TO SECURE A SPOT ON THE BALLOT PAPER
Honourable Brian Mundubile, the President of the National Reconciliation Party of Unity and Progress (NRPUP), has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and resourcefulness in his quest to become the President of Zambia.
His path to securing a spot on the ballot paper is marked by significant challenges, political intrigue, and unwavering determination—a testimony to his unshakeable resolve and his vision for the nation.
Mundubile’s political journey to the ballot paper took a bold turn when he left the Patriotic Front (PF), then led by Given Lubinda, to join the Tonse Alliance.
His decision was met with sharp criticism, with some of his colleagues in the PF labelling his move as self-expulsion, questioning his loyalty, and evening accusing him of being the ruling party’s project.
Despite being called all sorts of names and facing public scrutiny, Mundubile persevered, quickly rising through the ranks and eventually being elected President of the Tonse Alliance and the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD).
As Mundubile’s political influence grew, so did the resistance from the State.
In a calculated move to derail his presidential ambitions, the State orchestrated a lawsuit against the FDD for endorsing him.
This legal action was strategically designed to prevent Mundubile from having a party platform on which to file his presidential nomination.
The prevailing sentiment among those in power was clear: Mundubile should never appear on the ballot paper, confident in their ability to block his path through legal and procedural manoeuvres.
Refusing to be deterred, Mundubile worked quietly behind the scenes to secure another special purpose vehicle without making his intentions public.
This was a calculated effort to avoid tipping off those who might try to sabotage his plans by sponsoring lawsuits against any party he intended to use.
Mundubile’s tactical silence paid off, allowing him to continue his preparations uninterrupted.
However, there were some political party casualties.
The records of the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) party led by Sean Tembo —which the Sate thought Mundubile intended to use—had its records changed at the Registrar of Societies from a political party to a religious organization.
This move was designed to render the party ineligible as a special purpose vehicle for his candidacy.
What the State did not anticipate was Mundubile’s foresight.
He had already prepared an alternative plan.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Mundubile’s strategy was his ability to mobilize 1,000 supporters to present to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as required by law to proceed to the nomination stage—no small feat under normal circumstances, let alone when facing active obstruction.
The State had reportedly given strict instructions to block buses ferrying his supporters to the showgrounds.
Undaunted, Mundubile and his team devised a creative solution: they quietly brought supporters from all ten provinces into Lusaka a day ahead of time, housing them in different hotels to avoid detection.
On the day of presenting these supporters to ECZ at the showgrounds, they made their way not in large, conspicuous buses, but individually.
This strategy enabled them to bypass checkpoints and avoid the attention of the State seeking to prevent their arrival.
Their successful appearance at the showgrounds left the State stunned, unable to comprehend how Mundubile’s supporters had managed to gather without being intercepted.
The State summoned the Inspector General of Police and asked how Mundubile’s supporters got to the showgrounds, but he said he had no idea, infuriating the State mastermind.
On nomination day, Mundubile arrived with Makebi Zulu as his running mate and the NRPUP as the party under which he would file his nomination, shocking the state.
By keeping his strategy secret until the last possible moment, he avoided giving his opponents time to mount another legal challenge.
Despite the full weight of state machinery and intelligence being used to hinder his nomination, Mundubile’s resourcefulness prevailed.
Every attempt to block his path—from lawsuits to administrative manoeuvres—was met with strategic countermeasures and unwavering determination.
Mundubile’s journey to the ballot paper symbolizes the power of perseverance and strategic thinking in the face of adversity.
For many, his resilience and ingenuity are proof that he is destined for the presidency—no obstacle, however formidable, at this stage can manage to stand in his way.