By Revelation Editor
UPND Lusaka district coordinator Paulsen Hara has said that the withdrawal of candidates from the forthcoming Mandevu Parliamentary candidates is an indication that some opposition political parties are losing their relevance.
Hara, in an interview, explained that the fact opposition political parties have failed to field in candidates in the upcoming by-elections is a clear indication that “most political opponents have lost political grip on the ground.”
Hara is raising some very important issues here which need reflecting upon.
We saw the conduct by a party which emerged second in the August 13, 2026 general elections, actually failing to take part in the upcoming parliamentary by-elections, despite some of these by-elections have been necessitated on account that it was their own candidate who passed away. The NRPUP of course gave their own reasons for failing to take part in the elections, including finances and internal wrangles for instance. We know that there have been internal issues ever since the NRPUP, which had incarcerated Brian Mundubile as its presidential candidate and Makebi Zulu as running-mate, lost the general elections. However, the strides the party made in garnering millions and votes and winning a lot of members of parliament, mayors and councillors should not be rewarded by actually be staying away from the elections, barely two months following a strong showing. Mind you, this is a party that was new on the scene but thanks to the efforts of many garnered a huge following in the country within a very short space of time. Common wisdom would suggest that they would have been looking forward to participating in the by-election to continue their growth trajectory. But no, they decided to simply sit out these by-elections entirely. Quite puzzling actually. But not really puzzling for the many Zambians who have followed politics in this country and the conduct of politicians when the lose or win elections. It is a sickeningly predictable cycle actually.
But it was also disappointing that the other opposition political parties in the country failed to see the drama in the NRPUP to attempt to make their own appeal to the voters. We question the wisdom which informed the Citizens First (CF), Zambia Must Prosper and Socialist Party (SP) for instance to stay away from the elections, especially in the urban set up of Mandevu. Yes, we know that their loses in the August elections were humbling and they probably might have feared to participate in fear of another humbling loss. But to find success one has to continually keep on trying. They should take a leaf from the current President Hakainde Hichilema and a huge political figure in late president Michael Sata. Sata lost three elections in this country before he won. But each time he lost elections, the very next week he would get back into the campaigns again until he won public office in 2011. As for President Hichilema he lost six presidential elections, but each time he lost he would go back to his usual press conferences and radio appearances, and his UPND never stayed away from the elections actually. And so did Sata’s PF.
We don’t think that those in the opposition are doing themselves a favor by staying away from the elections.
Yes, the political environment might not be good right now, the more reason there is even a by-election in Mandevu. But are you going to wait until the political environment is perfect for you to participate in elections? By staying away, are you not encouraging the sustenance of the same unconducive environment to persist, which might actually affect your future prospects of participating in future elections?
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By Revelation Editor
UPND Lusaka district coordinator Paulsen Hara has said that the withdrawal of candidates from the forthcoming Mandevu Parliamentary candidates is an indication that some opposition political parties are losing their relevance.
Hara, in an interview, explained that the fact opposition political parties have failed to field in candidates in the upcoming by-elections is a clear indication that “most political opponents have lost political grip on the ground.”
Hara is raising some very important issues here which need reflecting upon.
We saw the conduct by a party which emerged second in the August 13, 2026 general elections, actually failing to take part in the upcoming parliamentary by-elections, despite some of these by-elections have been necessitated on account that it was their own candidate who passed away. The NRPUP of course gave their own reasons for failing to take part in the elections, including finances and internal wrangles for instance. We know that there have been internal issues ever since the NRPUP, which had incarcerated Brian Mundubile as its presidential candidate and Makebi Zulu as running-mate, lost the general elections. However, the strides the party made in garnering millions and votes and winning a lot of members of parliament, mayors and councillors should not be rewarded by actually be staying away from the elections, barely two months following a strong showing. Mind you, this is a party that was new on the scene but thanks to the efforts of many garnered a huge following in the country within a very short space of time. Common wisdom would suggest that they would have been looking forward to participating in the by-election to continue their growth trajectory. But no, they decided to simply sit out these by-elections entirely. Quite puzzling actually. But not really puzzling for the many Zambians who have followed politics in this country and the conduct of politicians when the lose or win elections. It is a sickeningly predictable cycle actually.
But it was also disappointing that the other opposition political parties in the country failed to see the drama in the NRPUP to attempt to make their own appeal to the voters. We question the wisdom which informed the Citizens First (CF), Zambia Must Prosper and Socialist Party (SP) for instance to stay away from the elections, especially in the urban set up of Mandevu. Yes, we know that their loses in the August elections were humbling and they probably might have feared to participate in fear of another humbling loss. But to find success one has to continually keep on trying. They should take a leaf from the current President Hakainde Hichilema and a huge political figure in late president Michael Sata. Sata lost three elections in this country before he won. But each time he lost elections, the very next week he would get back into the campaigns again until he won public office in 2011. As for President Hichilema he lost six presidential elections, but each time he lost he would go back to his usual press conferences and radio appearances, and his UPND never stayed away from the elections actually. And so did Sata’s PF.
We don’t think that those in the opposition are doing themselves a favor by staying away from the elections.
Yes, the political environment might not be good right now, the more reason there is even a by-election in Mandevu. But are you going to wait until the political environment is perfect for you to participate in elections? By staying away, are you not encouraging the sustenance of the same unconducive environment to persist, which might actually affect your future prospects of participating in future elections?
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