By the Independent Political Correspondent
Thursday, 5th February, 2026
Citizens First (CF) President Harry Kalaba has firmly pushed back against growing calls from Patriotic Front (PF) sympathizers urging him to subsume his party under the former ruling party as a strategy to wrest power from the UPND. Kalaba made his position clear during his appearance on Emmanuel Mwamba’s EMV programme, where several callers aggressively pressed the idea of PF-led opposition unity.
From the outset, President Kalaba laid a clear foundation: there is no politician in Zambia more committed to unity than he is. To underscore this point, he detailed the deliberate and personal efforts he has made to engage key opposition figures across the political divide. These efforts include visits to the homes of Hon. Given Lubinda and Dr. Fred M’membe to discuss how best the opposition could work together. He further revealed that he has held engagements with Hon. Makebi Zulu, Hon. Brian Mundubile, Hon. Stephen Kampyongo, Hon. Jean Kapata and Hon. Nkandu Luo, among others—all in a sincere bid to foster opposition unity.
Despite these well-documented outreach efforts, there remains a persistent narrative that President Kalaba is unwilling to work with others. This, however, appears to be less about facts and more about fixation. The CF leader was categorical in addressing this misconception, grounding his position in principle and scripture by quoting Amos 3:3: “Can two people walk together unless they agree?” His message was simple but profound—unity without shared values and agreement is not unity at all.
President Kalaba emphasized that Citizens First was established three years ago on firm values of integrity, accountability and orderly governance. The party was not formed as an “escort service” to prop up failed political projects, but as a credible third force—an alternative to both the PF and the UPND. Since its formation, CF’s upward trajectory and growing national footprint have demonstrated that the party is not only viable, but competitive. Indeed, from the discussions on the EMV programme, it was evident that President Kalaba and Citizens First are strong contenders in the August 13 elections.
Interestingly, one caller challenged the EMV presenter to instead reach out to the PF and ask them to rally behind Citizens First and its leader. Their argument was that CF has shown itself to be orderly, disciplined and well-organized, judging by the steady gains it has made so far. This suggestion inadvertently exposed the core contradiction in the PF callers’ position.
What was unmistakable throughout the programme was a case of selective amnesia. The clearly agitated mostly PF callers seemed to forget that the PF was decisively rejected by Zambians in 2021 because of its bullish, violent, corrupt and irrational management of state affairs. Disturbingly, these very traits appear to be resurfacing. Even more alarming is the notion, advanced by some callers, that PF Members of Parliament are a “gift” to the nation and should be used as a bargaining chip in any unity talks.
The reality is the exact opposite. The PF and its MPs must be rejected, not rehabilitated. They have not only proven to be corrupt, but have also crossed a dangerous line by facilitating the passage of Bill 7 on the floor of Parliament. If the PF were a party worth its salt or a shadow of what it was under MCS & ECL, Bill 7 would not have gone beyond the first reading—let alone pass through the second and third readings. Responsible Church mother bodies and Civil Society Organisations pleaded with PF MPs not to support the bill, but their counsel was ignored. That betrayal of public trust cannot be wished away.
Today’s PF is not the PF of Michael Chilufya Sata. It is a shell dominated by self-serving actors whose actions have harmed the nation. To now demand that President Kalaba legitimizes this confusion by casting his lot with them is not only unreasonable, it is dangerous. Unity can never be built on treachery, bullying and corrupt conduct.
Zambians deserves better. They must not forget the PF betrayal lightly. In 2026, they have an opportunity to reject not just a failing ruling party but also an opposition party that betrayed their trust when it mattered most and voted for a Bill that was rejected by all well meaning Zambians simply because of a few pieces of silver – How opportunistic and unprincipled. The lesson is clear: unity at all costs is not unity—it is a compromise that sacrifices the nation’s future.
Citizens First stands for principled unity—unity anchored on shared values, integrity and a genuine commitment to national renewal. We therefore support President Kalaba’s firm position: agreement must come before unity. The PF must first accept that its house is not in order and that the fight against corruption requires leaders with a proven legacy of integrity. Sadly for them, such leadership does not reside within the PF.
