UPND Western Province Statement Lacks Honesty and Logic On The Luampa Incident
By Professor Namukolo Miyanda, Pan-Africanist and Governance Expert
6th August, 2026
The UPND Western Province statement of 4th August 2026 is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Western Province and a textbook case of denial, deflection, and political damage control. Let us deal with the facts.
First, peace does not mean silence in the face of neglect. Yes, Western Province has been peaceful. Peace is part of our culture. But peace has been mistaken by UPND for permission to neglect, abandon, and take us for granted for 5 years. You cannot boast about 14 by-elections without violence while you simultaneously preside over collapsed schools, youth unemployment, and the deliberate abandonment of our heritage institutions like Lwatile Primary School in Lealui. That is not leadership. That is complacency.
Both former Provincial Minister Hon. Kapelwa Mbangweta and the current Permanent Secretary Akapelwa Simomo have failed to develop Western Province in the last 5 years. What they have only succeeded in doing is weaponizing the Police and causing disunity among various stakeholders in the Province, including traditional leaders, civil society, and political players.
Second, the Luampa incident cannot be wished away, and it cannot be reduced to one-sided accusations. The alleged videos and reports of firearms being discharged still need to be thoroughly investigated and verified. But it is illogical and dishonest to single out the alleged display of firearms while ignoring the overall sequence of events on that very day. That same day UPND cadres blocked the road, obstructed the traffic of the campaign motorcade, and threw stones and other objects at the motorcade from different directions. Instead of analyzing the intent of UPND cadres to unlawfully confront a legally scheduled campaign activity, Hon. Kapelwa Mbangweta chooses to behave as if he is a policeman capable of issuing a charge sheet to anyone. Just a free advise by now, Mr. Kapelwa Mbangweta should be concentrating much on his political campaigns in Nkeyema Constituency, where the race between himself and aspiring independent candidate Austin Liato is neck and neck.
We therefore agree with one part of the UPND statement: the Zambia Police Service must thoroughly investigate and bring to book anyone who broke the law, regardless of party. But the investigation must be independent, impartial, and not used to shield UPND cadres while persecuting opponents.
Third, UPND’s crocodile tears on development ring hollow. It is ironic indeed that UPND is now talking about “development initiatives” and an “International airport”. Where was this energy in the last 5 years? In 5 years UPND has failed to rehabilitate Lwatile Primary School, a national heritage in the heart of the royal palace. It has failed to provide free books and uniforms to children in Western Province. It has failed to give our graduates jobs.
Now, few days to elections, UPND suddenly remembers Western Province exists. That is not commitment. That is panic. The people of Western Province have not forgotten who questioned their economic potential, who delayed projects, and who treated their Province as an afterthought. You do not get to campaign on ideas today after ignoring the province for half a decade.
Fourth, real peace comes with dignity, not slogans. UPND calls for politics “based on ideas, policies and service to the people”. We agree. That is exactly why leaders like Brian Mundubile are offering a concrete alternative: fix the education system, provide free uniforms and books, invest in economic empowerment, and respect our heritage.
Western Province does not need part-time lectures on peace from a party that has delivered poverty and disunity. We need investment. We need schools that work. We need jobs for our youth. We need a political party that respects our institutions and delivers for our people.
In conclusion, the UPND statement is an attempt to sanitize failure. Western Province is peaceful not because of UPND, but in spite of UPND.
We reject violence. We reject intimidation. We also reject 5 more years of neglect dressed up as peace.
The people of Western Province are watching. And on 13th August 2026, they will vote for leadership that respects them, invests in them, and delivers for them.
The time for excuses is over. Lets be vigilant and protect the vote.