By Mwansa Kaumba
The Tonse/Pamodzi Alliance says it is surprised by the direction and frequency of remarks by alliance secretary general Zumani Zimba at a time when senior opposition leaders remain incarcerated.
Pamodzi media director Brian Matambo stated that they have taken note, with considerable alarm, statements attributed to Zimba in today’s Daily Mail suggesting that Tonse leader Brian Mundubile should recognise President Hakainde Hichilema and pave the way for dialogue.
Pamodzi is in partnership with Tonse.
”We are particularly alarmed by the direction and frequency of some of Mr Zimba’s recent public statements. At a time when senior opposition leaders remain incarcerated and Zambia continues to grapple with unresolved questions arising from the August 2026 elections, public pronouncements touching on the political direction of the opposition require consultation, discipline and fidelity to established decision-making structures,” Matambo stated. “The official position remains clear: President Brian Mundubile, Hon. Makebi Zulu, Bishop Trevor Mwamba and all other incarcerated political prisoners must be released forthwith and without any preconditions. Furthermore, the disputed August 2026 elections must be subjected to judicial review, allowing the questions surrounding that electoral process to be determined through the courts in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.”
Matambo stated that they believed that the two steps provide the most credible panacea for Zambia’s healing, unity and progress.
”Zambia cannot heal by pretending that profound political and constitutional disputes do not exist. Neither can genuine reconciliation be constructed while political leaders remain behind bars and legitimate electoral grievances have not been afforded an opportunity for judicial determination,” he stated.
Matambo stated that the council leaders of the Tonse alliance nor the council of leaders of Pamodzi had not met to review the post-election situation and arrive at such a decision, and no collective resolution has been made endorsing the position attributed to Zimba.
”Mr Zimba is therefore expressing his own personal opinion, to which he is entitled, but that opinion must not be presented, interpreted or reported as the official position of Tonse, Pamodzi, President Brian Mundubile, or the collective opposition leadership,” Matambo stated. “Dialogue itself is not the problem. We remain believers in dialogue as an indispensable instrument of democratic politics. But meaningful dialogue cannot demand surrender as its entrance fee. It cannot substitute justice, due process and constitutional accountability, nor can it require one side to abandon its grievances before those grievances have been independently examined.”
Pamodzi urged Zimba to exercise restraint and recognise the gravity of this moment.
”Whatever his personal assessment of the political situation may be, no individual can negotiate, concede or determine the collective political position of Tonse and Pamodzi outside their established leadership structures,” stated Matambo. “Until the respective Councils of Leaders meet, deliberate and communicate otherwise, there has been no decision by Tonse or Pamodzi adopting the position attributed to Mr Zimba. Our position remains the unconditional release of the incarcerated political leadership and judicial review of the August 2026 elections as necessary foundations for healing, unity and progress in Zambia.”
