Rédaction Africa Links 24 with zamobserver
Published on 2024-02-17 18:09:15
The Zambian social media-based opposition political parties, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP), have made it clear that they are distancing themselves from former president Edgar Lungu’s new political formation, United Kwacha Alliance (UKA).
After losing the Patriotic Front (PF) to Miles Sampa, Lungu has activated Plan B of the unwavering Alebwelelapo project by gathering leaders of one-man parties into an alliance to support his candidacy in the 2026 elections. The group that includes Harry Kalaba of Citizens First, Chishala Kateka of New Heritage Party, Saboi Imboela of the NDC faction, and Jackson Silavwe of Golden Heritage Party, among others, is expected to eventually endorse Lungu as the sole presidential candidate for the next general election.
However, the UKA has faced opposition from other parties, such as the Socialist Party, which refused to have anything to do with it, citing awareness of the scheming and maneuvering going on in the alliance. Following suit, EFF leader Kasonde Mwenda also publicly announced the non-affiliation of the party with UKA, clarifying the party’s position on their Facebook page.
In a similar vein, Sean Tembo, the owner of Patriots for Economic Progress, expressed support for the Opposition Alliance, stating that they would only be with them in spirit for now, but may join at the right time. This stance indicates that some opposition parties are not fully on board with the UKA and may have reservations about joining the alliance.
It is clear that there is division and skepticism within the opposition parties regarding UKA and the role it will play in the upcoming elections. This distancing from UKA by influential parties such as EFF and PeP could signify a lack of confidence in Lungu’s leadership and the alliance’s ability to bring about positive change for the country.
Overall, the emergence of the United Kwacha Alliance has sparked mixed reactions among opposition parties, with some choosing to distance themselves from it while others remain open to the possibility of joining in the future. The 2026 elections will be a pivotal moment for Zambian politics, and the dynamics of alliances and party affiliations will continue to evolve as the election date approaches.
Read the original article on Zambia Observer
