By the Independent Correspondent
Wednesday, 18th February, 2026
In the ever-evolving landscape of Zambian politics, the call for opposition unity has become a perennial anthem. As we approach the crucial 2026 general elections, the conversations have once again intensified. However, it has become increasingly clear that many of those seeking to unite opposition leaders are focusing on the wrong things.
The discourse has been primarily fixated on the endgame—coming up with a consensus presidential candidate—rather than securing a workable plan that involves looking beyond the presidency.
If the opposition is serious about unseating the incumbent, they must perhaps consider what the Citizens First (CF) leader, Harry Kalaba, alluded to in his recent interview. Mr. Kalaba called for a paradigm shift, urging stakeholders to pursue closer collaboration that transcends the usual obsession with the presidency.
He rightly highlighted that there are numerous areas where the opposition should be collaborating, yet most people talking about unity remain fixated on picking a single flag bearer. Instead, Kalaba recommends that the opposition must start developing a coherent working plan. This plan should include a meticulous dissection of the current constituency landscape and a strategy for sharing Parliamentary, Mayoral, and Council seats among the various opposition players.
“It is vital to ensure that a coherent working plan is established beyond the presidency. We must remember that a President can be a lame duck if he or she has no Parliamentarians to support a legislative agenda or hold the executive accountable. Therefore, our discourse must be holistic.” Kalaba said.
Kalaba further cautioned against spending too much time talking about the Presidency at the expense of holding the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) accountable. There are growing concerns regarding proposed amendments to the electoral process being introduced so late in the game. As Kalaba noted, “Your guess is as good as mine why they have waited this long.” The opposition must work together to agree on responses to these issues and push back collectively.
This level of collaboration, according to the CF leader, should also serve as a basis to agree on the kind of constitution we would like to have. A united opposition must start working towards that shared constitutional vision now.
In the absence of a legal framework for a coalition government, Kalaba emphasized that discussions among opposition leaders and elders must be practical. They should be centered around agreeing on Parliamentary seat allocation as a basis for gaining commitment from all parties. The goal is to ensure that after the August elections, there is no departure from what would have been agreed upon.
“No matter how strong a candidate the opposition fields,” Kalaba warned, “if the playing field is not leveled, that can still work against us.”
He went on to challenge the elders, the church mother bodies, the Civil Society Organisations, and all opposition parties to work together. They must seek a level of collaboration that will not only help protect the vote but also guarantee safeguards against any form of abuse by the executive.
In summation, the current fixation on a single presidential candidate is a narrow approach that overlooks the structural battles that define governance. By refocusing on the process—securing Parliament, holding electoral bodies accountable, and agreeing on a constitutional destination—the opposition builds a foundation that is harder to shake.
This is the level of Unity in Diversity that is required. It is a unity of purpose and process that goes beyond the individual at the top. While selecting a candidate is often seen as the ultimate prize, building a durable and comprehensive political structure may actually be the harder, yet more necessary, achievement.
