The Independent Correspondent
Saturday 24th January,
The filing in of presidential nominations by the Pule faction of the Tonse Alliance was presented to the nation as a milestone of internal democracy. However, information reaching this publication in the early hours of Saturday, 24th January 2026 paints a very different picture—one that suggests a carefully stage-managed process designed more for optics than for genuine democratic choice.
According to these accounts, the nomination exercise conducted by the Pule faction was a sham, deliberately crafted to project the popularity of a preferred candidate while portraying the faction as inclusive and democratic. In reality, this process systematically excluded what many consider the real Tonse Alliance—the grouping that enjoyed the political goodwill and blessings of the late former President, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
At the centre of this political machination is Dr. Mwelwa, widely described as the chief architect of the entire process. Through careful choreography, Dr. Mwelwa allegedly engineered the optics that allowed the likes of Chifumu Banda, Exilda Mwenya, Zumani Zima and others to file in their nominations without paying a Kwacha or Ngwee. To the casual observer, this gave the impression of openness, competition, and internal democracy. To those on the inside, however, it was little more than political theatre.
This strategy appears aimed at impressing or misleading PF members and the broader opposition landscape into believing that the Pule faction is competitive and represents democratic values. Yet, such an exercise quickly collapses under scrutiny. The very PF members the faction seems eager to impress are not naïve spectators—their candidates paid their K200,000 nomination fees and understand what a genuine contest looks like. They can easily distinguish between a real democratic process and a choreographed spectacle.
In truth, this type of political deception amounts to self-deception. A movement that begins its journey on a foundation of half-truths and managed narratives cannot credibly claim the moral authority to govern. Tonse should be reminded that lies have very short legs. If there is any doubt about this political truth, they need only consult the UPND, whose own contradictions between rhetoric and reality have not gone unnoticed by the Zambian people.
Zambia does not need a replica of the UPND under a different name. The country is crying out for honest men and women—leaders who carry themselves with the highest standards of integrity, sincerity, and transparency. Opposition unity remains critical if the ruling party is to be challenged effectively, but that unity must be genuine. It cannot be imposed, manipulated, or manufactured through deception.
It is precisely this lack of sincerity that explains why Mr. Kelvin Bwalya Fube (KBF) and his Zambia Must Prosper party opted out of what they viewed as a fixed deal. Their decision underscores a broader concern shared by many: unity without integrity is hollow, and consensus built on falsehoods is destined to collapse.
As Tonse navigates this critical phase, it must decide what it truly stands for. Political unity anchored in lies is not unity at all. If the opposition is to inspire confidence and offer Zambia a credible alternative, it must be birthed in honesty, guided by truth, and sustained by integrity. Anything less is merely another exercise in political illusion.
