By TROY MUKUPA
In a dramatic turn of events, the government has banned the Tonse Alliance from endorsing former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu as its presidential candidate for the 2026 general election.
According to Cornelius Mweetwa, the Chief Government Spokesperson, the alliance’s continued support for Lungu undermines the integrity of the Judiciary, as the Constitutional Court had previously nullified his eligibility to run.
Mweetwa has ordered the Tonse Alliance to cease spreading what he terms as falsehoods regarding Lungu’s candidacy. However, it remains to be seen how the alliance will respond to this directive, as they have previously stated that Lungu is their chosen candidate for the 2026 election.
In fact, PF faction Vice President Given Lubinda, a key figure in the Tonse Alliance, has publicly declared that no one can stop Lungu from running, stating that “when Lungu stands in 2026, he won’t come again in 2031, there are others in the alliance who can succeed him”. This defiance suggests that the alliance may continue to support Lungu’s candidacy, despite the government’s ban.
The government’s decision to ban the Tonse Alliance from endorsing Lungu has sparked heated debate, with some arguing that it is an attempt to stifle democracy and silence opposition voices. Others have welcomed the move, citing the need to uphold the rule of law and respect the decisions of the Judiciary.
As the country gears up for the 2026 general election, the Tonse Alliance’s next move will be closely watched. Will they comply with the government’s directive, or will they continue to defy the ban and risk facing the consequences? Only time will tell.