Lawyer Dickson Jere the other day asked a very pertinent question following the unveiling by Tonse Alliance of former president Edgar Lungu as their flag bearer in the 2026 general elections.
Here’s what Jere wrote on his Facebook page:
“ECL has been unveiled as Tonse Alliance Presidential Candidate for 2026…which parties are in Tonse…kindly update…”
Almost at the same time that Jere was wondering, Saboi Imboela of the National Democratic Congress, whose party briefly flirted with Lungu in the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA), was less complimentary.
She branded it as the “Neka” alliance which loosely translated means a one man show [presumably in reference to Lungu]
that had nothing to offer.
Jere’s question must have piqued many a mind and before long, the true identities of Tonse Alliance partners started coming out of the closets in a rather dizzying manner: Cosmo Mumba, Wright Musoma, Dan Pule, Nason Msoni and Peter Chanda, among others.
In other words, before you add the likes of Bowman Lusambo, Mumbi Phiri, Raphael Nakachinda, Stephen Kampyongo and Ronald Chitotela, if Tonse Alliance were to ever form government, the above are most likely going to be our ministers.
And if ever there was some form of reconciliation along the way between UKA and Tonse alliances, then most probably expect Imboela herself to be in cabinet!
Compatriots, if we really love this country, no matter how annoying and haphazard the current leadership looks, going back to the lot we had before the 2021 elections should be cursed against at all costs.
Yes, the standard of living among many Zambians is high but the real reason is that the Patriotic Front borrowed what they could not manage to pay back and so much is being paid to our creditors. That is why many sectors are suffering.
Yes, fuel prices are high but how much fuel was borrowed on credit?
Yes, we are having power shortages but whose fault is it when we don’t have enough rain?
Do Zambians want to go back to the days of party commandos, hooliganism, institutionalized corruption and more debt?
Honestly, what leadership can Edgar Lungu, Cosmo Mumba, Wright Musoma, Nason Msoni, Dan Pule, Peter Chanda, et al offer to drive this country from the mess the Patriotic Front left?
Compatriots, let’s be careful with what we wish for.
Some “baby comebacks” can be unimaginably deadly.
