The Independent Correspondent
Saturday 24th January, 2026
As Zambia inches closer to the 2026 general elections, the character, conduct, and credibility of those seeking the highest office must be subjected to rigorous public scrutiny. Power in a democracy is not seized by stealth; it is earned through trust. It is against this backdrop that serious questions are being asked about the Tonse Alliance’s presidential nominee, Mr. Brian Mundubile—popularly known as Bashi Kapasa.
Mr. Mundubile’s political posture in recent years has created the impression of a man determined to reach State House by any means necessary. Critics argue that his ambition appears so consuming that it risks collateral damage, including the potential suspension or marginalisation of the Patriotic Front (PF), from the Tonse Alliance, the very party on whose ticket he was elected to Parliament. For a politician who rose to prominence in the PF ranks, this has left many supporters uneasy and asking whether loyalty and principle have been sacrificed at the altar of personal ambition.
Those who were close to the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu recount that Mr. Mundubile was, at some point, effectively blocked by the former Head of State, who hardly spoke with for almost a year before he died. The reason, it is claimed, was President Lungu’s deep suspicion that Mundubile was quietly working with the UPND. While such claims remain a matter of political debate rather than judicial fact, they have refused to fade from public discourse. ECL, further linked Mundubile to a social media platform that notorious at insulting the head of State. The attacks only stopped when he was confronted and asked to put an end to the attacks. Upon ECL’s demise, the attacks would shift to former First Lady Esther Lungu, the Lungu Family and Makebi Zulu.
These suspicions of Mundubile’s double allegiance were reignited when political analyst Prof. Sishuwa Sishuwa, appearing on a KBN analysis programme, suggested that someone within PF ranks was poised to “deliver” opposition MPs to the UPND to secure the numbers required to pass the highly controversial Bill 7. Though no name was mentioned on air, events that followed drew renewed attention to Mr. Mundubile.
Despite public assurances that he would vote against Bill 7, the moment of truth saw Mr. Mundubile absent himself from Parliament. This decision raised eyebrows. The Independent on condition of anonymity, spoke to two MPs who voted in favour of the Bill. According to these MPs, they were encouraged to proceed, enticed by promises of “prize money,” and they reluctantly admitted that Mr. Mundubile had told them that if they were comfortable with the Bill, they were free to support it especially that the UPND was willing to pay them unlike other bills where they are not paid to support. These claims remain subject to further investigation and verification, but they nonetheless feed a growing perception of covert collusion rather than principled opposition.
Beyond parliamentary manoeuvres, there are also concerns about Mr. Mundubile’s private life and whether it aligns with the moral expectations many Zambians place on national leadership—particularly in a country declared a Christian nation. It is widely alleged that Mr. Mundubile maintains two matrimonial homes. In addition to his wife, who recently lost her mother, there are claims of a long-standing relationship in Lusaka with a woman employed by an NGO. The relationship, reportedly spanning close to two decades with a 13 year old child by the name of Kapasa.
The other spouse has equally brought Hon. Mundubile under serious scrutiny especially that besides the Honourable’s attacks on government, she retained her job in a parastatal organisation when those close to Mundibile have had their spouses’ contracts terminated including those working in the Private sector like Hon. Kabaso Kampampi. How has she survived when others have been fired?
If these allegations are true, they raise difficult questions about power dynamics, personal integrity, and the example set by those aspiring to lead the nation. Critics argue that such arrangements point to a pattern of using influence and power in ways that deserve public explanation, not quiet acceptance.
Politics is not merely about numbers, alliances, and strategy; it is also about character. While Mr. Mundubile may succeed in politically outmanoeuvring rivals and even reshaping the Tonse Alliance to his advantage, he will find it far harder to evade the scrutiny of the Zambian people. Voters are increasingly demanding transparency, integrity, and moral uprightness from those who seek the presidency.
Stealth, calculation, and ambition may win battles within party structures, but they are no substitute for trust. As the August 13 2026, elections approach, the central question remains: can a man surrounded by so many unresolved questions—political and personal—be entrusted with the highest office in the land? The answer, ultimately, lies with the people of Zambia.
