By the Independent Investigative Correspondent
Saturday, 21 March, 2026
The political landscape in Zambia has always been a theatre of intrigue, ambition, and, at times, betrayal. The recent detention of Tonse Presidential candidate Brian Mundubile following a Warn and Caution by the Zambia Police in mid-2025 has brought to light a tale of treachery that serves as a stark reminder of the price one pays for misplaced ambition and disloyalty.
The Independent’s Investigative Team has unearthed a web of deceit and manipulation woven by the Mporokoso MP, whose desperation for the presidency knows no bounds. His story evokes a parable once told about Nigerian men: if offered $1 million to die the next day, a Nigerian man would take the money, praying perhaps he may not die—but if he does, at least he would have had the million. This analogy seems strikingly appropriate in the context of the Mporokoso MP, who, in his relentless pursuit of the presidency, appears to have disregarded the long-term consequences of his actions in favor of short-term gains.
The Mporokoso MP’s political ambitions are no secret. However, his methods to achieve them have at most been deeply flawed. It has been established that he sought to exploit personal relationships to gain favor with former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL). He attempted to manipulate ECL by engaging in a casual and illicit relationship with the former president’s daughter, as well as his well-known concubine. His strategy was clear: use these connections to convince ECL to anoint him as the Patriotic Front (PF) leader.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the people close to ECL said; imagine you bring someone that close and he starts sleeping with your daughter while at the same time having a fling with your girlfriend… what kind of man does that? The man is eveil”
While ECL, was widely respected for his loyalty and prudence, he was not swayed by the antics by the Mporokoso MP. He consistently demonstrated a deep character of loyalty, retaining trusted figures such as Valden Findley, Kaiza Zulu, Freedom Sikazwe, Nkandu Luo, Raphael Nakachinda, and Given Lubinda despite pressures to do otherwise. ECL even facilitated business contracts between the Mporokoso MP and HRH Mwata Kazembe, through BuildTrust Zambia, a company that we have come to understand was given preferential treatment in contract allocation to allow the Mwata benefit from infrastructure projects in Luapula and beyond – This will explain the numerous calls being quoted in the recent past between the Mwata and the Mporokoso MP.
Unknown to the Mundubile, ECL was well-informed and deeply offended by his maneuvers. ECL, known for his loyalty and integrity, could not condone such immoral tactics, leading to a swift and decisive fall out. ECL severed ties with Mundubile, effectively blocking his phone number and with it, the Mporokoso MP’s path to the PF leadership. This rejection marked the beginning of Mundubile’s shift to the UPND as a sworn agent hired to drive the wedge between the PF jugular vein.
Bitter and resentful, Mundubile resorted to attacking ECL through a gutter publication called Munyaule. The publication became a tool for spreading malicious propaganda against ECL. However, ECL was not one to be trifled with. Upon discovering Mundubile’s involvement, ECL confronted him directly. With a single phone call, the attacks ceased—temporarily.
Following ECL’s demise on June 5, 2025, Munyaule resumed its attacks, this time targeting ECL’s widow, Mama Esther Lungu. Mundubile’s fingerprints were all over the publication, showcasing his relentless pursuit of power through double dealing, deceit and betrayal.
Mundubile’s double dealing is also credited to have paid off for his long-term friend and partner in treachery Stephen kampyongo, whose wife he managed to have released from prison in September 2025, pending appeal. His most significant act of betrayal, however, was his instrumental role in helping the United Party for National Development (UPND) pass Bill 7 through Parliament. The rewards he reaped from this endeavor were substantial, earning him a strong following that caused him to declare his presidential ambitions, ignoring his binding Faustian bargain with the “devil” himself.
Unlike ECL, who would have walked away from such betrayal, Mundubile’s new ally is not one to forgivie or forget. The humiliation of his treachery is too great, and the price of his ambition too steep for the master to allow to go unpunished. It is clear now that the reward for his role in Bill 7 was not the presidency he craved but a reminder that treachery has its own price. We shall see how this will unfold over the next couple weeks.
To young and upcoming politicians, the Mundubile saga serves as a reminder that leadership is not just about ambition but integrity. Bloggers like Queen Cobra have consistently highlighted Mundubile’s unsuitability for leadership, warning against rallying behind individuals driven by greed and self-interest. As she aptly stated in January 2025, “A man that used a rogue media page called *Munyaule* to disrespect, undress ECL is not fit to be President of this Republic.”
To the voters, let us be reminded that Zambia is not short of leaders of integrity—men and women who prioritize the nation’s development over personal gain. It is imperative that citizens rally behind such individuals rather than money mongers and glory seekers who are willing to sell the country to the highest bidder.
Brian Mundubile’s detention and subsequent charge is therefore a testament to the fact that treachery has its own price. His journey from ambition to betrayal and, ultimately, to humiliation underscores the importance of loyalty, integrity, and humility in leadership. Zambia deserves leaders who embody these values—leaders who will prioritize the nation’s well-being over personal gain. As the nation goes to the polls this year, let this Mporokoso MP’s story serve as a cautionary tale and a call to choose wisely.
Treachery may offer fleeting rewards, but its price is steep, and its consequences enduring.
