UKA eruption 

By Daily Revelation Editor 

The glaring problems happening in the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) before our eyes could be clearly seen from the onset of the formation of this grouping, because in Zambia, politicians rarely pursue politics to serve the common good. They are always motivated by what they will gain from politics as opposed to engaging in efforts that will ultimately benefit the common good.

One could easily tell that UKA was going to encounter problems from the gate-go by just referring to the past on how alliances or pacts have fallen apart the moment the parties started discussing leadership positions, before actually agreeing on a common platform they will pursue for public good.

To avoid boring you, we shall just consider some of the more recent alliances and pacts, and how they collapsed the moment parties refused to agree especially on the issue of leadership. For the 2006 general elections, the Anderson Mazoka led UPND entered into an alliance with the FDD and UNIP, with established consensus then seeming to back the candidature of Mazoka as the presidential candidate. But all hell broke loose the moment Mazoka died and was replaced by a newcomer Hakainde Hichilema who replaced him as UPND leader. Arguments emerged over leadership such that even if the three parties went into the elections as one United Democratic Alliance (UDA), with Hichilema as presidential candidate, the serious cracks were all too visible to see.

Then came the PF/UPND pact which started on a promising note in 2009-2010 to unseat the MMD administration of Rupiah Banda, but that too did not survive the bickering over who should be the leader. The PF argued that as the biggest opposition party, Michael Sata should lead the pact with Hichilema serving as his deputy. The UPND argued for Hichilema to contest the presidency, arguing that the ground had shifted from the 2006 elections which saw PF emerge second to the then Levy Mwanawasa led MMD. They argued that they had won some key by-elections that had been held since 2006 while the PF lost theirs. To cut the long story short, that alliance collapsed immediately after with the PF going it alone to remove the MMD from power in the 2011 general elections.

There were also issues with the UPND alliance that ushered the UPND into office in 2021, resulting in the emergence of problems in one of the main parties in the alliance, NDC splitting into to factions. NDC leader then Chishimba Kambwili left his own party to rejoin the PF, arguing that the UPND were insincere in their dealings. However, Kambwili was countered with assertions that he had done so for his own selfish interests to safe his skin following the many cases he was facing at the time.

And now we have UKA. The formation of this alliance coincided with former president Edgar Lungu rejoining politics, arguing that he was coming back to defend democracy following what he said as attempts by the UPND to destroy the main opposition PF. Lungu indicated that in the defence of this democracy he was going to assume the PF presidency and that a convention would be called at an opportune time. He also said he was willing to back any opposition figure the people would choose to lead the opposition into 2026. How they were going to arrive at the same has never been explained to Zambians.

However, as days progressed, the alliance was faced with the same dilemna which has been the death bed of all alliances in the last, choosing a presidential candidate, with those in PF and other opposition groups in the alliance arguing that the matter should not even be up for debate as Lungu was the most popular opposition leader. But of course there have been genuine concerns raised, regardless the merits or demerits of the ongoing legitimacy case challenging his candidature before the courts of law. This is one matter that can’t be wished away of course, but should be discussed conclusively by those in the alliance, especially as it has been argued that the UPND is very determined to ensure that Lungu does not appear on the ballot again.

There have also been arguments of Lungu having a record as former head of state, which some have cautioned can be used against him by the ruling party in the general elections.

Concerns also should be addressed from those in PF who argue that some in the alliance are trying to ride on Lungu’s back of being the most popular figure in that alliance. That they want to enjoy the benefits Lungu brings to the alliance without wanting Lungu actually.

What Lungu and PF and those in UKA must address is if Lungu will be more beneficial to UKA or any other alliances, backing them a candidate or the former president being the flag carrier himself. Otherwise, this alliance is threatening to tear up in the same manner as the previous alliances that have been established in this country.

And no Zambian has ever heard of any UKA programme on how they would improve the governance of this country if they were provided with the opportunity by the citizens to lead this country.