A Caution to The 2026 Hopefuls: Beware the Diaspora Mirage

A Caution to The 2026 Hopefuls: Beware the Diaspora Mirage

The Editor 

As the race for Zambia’s 2026 presidential election begins to take shape, prospective candidates are understandably casting their nets wide for support, validation, and strategic advantage. In this search, a significant, vocal, and often persuasive cohort has emerged: Zambians in the Diaspora. While their engagement is a testament to our interconnected world, a stark and sobering warning must be issued to all serious contenders: do not be deceived by this mirage.

The current wave of Diaspora endorsements presents a dangerous illusion, fundamentally different from the patriotic surge witnessed in 2021. That period was marked by a genuine, collective yearning for change, with many based abroad making tangible sacrifices, mobilising resources, and, crucially, returning home to vote. Their motivation was rooted in national destiny.

Today, a concerning shift has occurred. A prominent segment of this new crop of endorsers operates with a primary motive: monetary gain. Their support is a transactional commodity, offered to the highest bidder or the most gullible hopeful. They are political mercenaries, leveraging social media platforms to create a false perception of groundswell and viability. Crucially, most lack any substantive political experience or ground-level understanding of the current domestic realities. Even more telling is their deafening silence on one critical action: they will not be boarding planes to vote in 2026. Many openly fear returning, citing potential arrest as is the case with Ethel Chisono Edward (A Zambian-American) who was slapped with an 18-month sentence for criticizing the UPND leader. It is equally a known fact that others are gripped with fear of legal consequences as legal action has already commenced against and are being targeted using the repressive Cyber Law which is being weaponised against citizens, this is a stark admission that removes them from the very electoral equation they seek to influence.

This presents a dual peril for opposition hopefuls:

1. Financial Drain and Distortion: Candidates risk channeling scarce campaign resources into appeasing offshore voices who provide zero electoral returns. These funds, desperately needed for grassroots mobilisation and local outreach, are siphoned off for digital propaganda that does not translate into votes.
2. The Division and Polarisation Trap: These external actors, with no stake in the post-election cohesion of the nation, are becoming agents of division. By playing multiple candidates against each other, offering exclusive endorsements for a fee, and fueling personal attacks, they are actively fragmenting the opposition. Their goal is not unity or victory, but the prolongation of a lucrative conflict. Allowing them to mediate or influence internal opposition politics is a recipe for further, possibly irreparable, polarisation. We need unity. They need to stand down. Their sponsors MUST advise them to show restraint and ensure that unity becomes the rallying cry of their actions otherwise we will remain fractured and create an environment that will allow the UPND maintain their hold on the governance of the nation albeit with a repressive and draconian hand of impunity.

The Path Forward: The Hallmarks of the Ideal Candidate

In light of these pitfalls, the focus must return to substance, integrity, and electability. The ideal candidate for Zambia in 2026 must not be a creation of social media trends or diaspora-funded hype. They must be rooted in demonstrable reality. Here are the non-negotiable attributes:

1. Proven Electoral Experience: The candidate must have a verifiable track record of running, or playing a senior, decisive role in, a national election. They must understand the gruelling mechanics of the Zambian electoral process from ward to national level.

1. Unwavering Consistency: Zambia needs a leader whose principles are not for sale. The candidate must have a consistent, documented history of policy positions and ideological stance, not one that shifts with the political wind or donor preference.

1. Local and International Confidence: They must possess the inherent credibility to attract the confidence of both the Zambian electorate at home – the teachers, farmers, marketeers, and miners – and the respectful engagement of the international community and investor partners.

1. Incorruptible Integrity: The candidate must stand out with an unimpeachable record of integrity. They must be corruption-free, transparent in conduct, and able to withstand the most intense scrutiny. Their public service record must be one of accountability.

1. Formal Political Anchoring: Perhaps most critically, the candidate must have acceptance and legitimacy within a formal, structured political formation. They must be a product of a party’s values, systems, and collective decision-making – not a political chancer, hopping from party to party in search of a vehicle, freelancing without base or accountability.

To the 2026 hopefuls: look past the curated profiles and manufactured online trends. Your victory will be decided in Chongwe, Kasama, Mongu, Chipata, Kaputa, Lavushi Manda and Livingstone, not in London, Washington, or Johannesburg. Invest in the ground. Unite around credible, home-grown leadership. Reject the merchants of division. The future of Zambia is too precious to be auctioned to the highest absentee bidder. Choose the path of substance, and let the people—the actual voters—decide.