Opposition Warns Against Division

Banda stresses collaboration and shared responsibility as crucial for national unit, progress and fair governance.

By Francis Maingaila  ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24 - (October 1, 2025) – Opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has called on political leaders to urgently address national divisions, engage in meaningful dialogue, and unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2026 elections. 

The party warned that continued disunity threatens Zambia’s democracy, undermines accountability, and compromises the ability of political actors to act as an effective check on government power.

Chifumo Banda, the party president, told journalists at a media briefing that Zambia faces a serious crisis of trust and cohesion. He said the country has lost the unity, mutual respect, and sense of shared responsibility necessary for effective governance. 

Political leaders, he emphasized, must rise above partisan interests and work collaboratively to restore national stability and confidence.

Banda called on the Zambia Centre for Interpreted Dialogue, a platform comprising representatives from multiple political parties, to immediately convene a summit of party leaders. 

He reminded that since April 11, 2025, when the President agreed to pursue dialogue, no significant progress has been made. 

With less than a year before the elections, further delays risk escalating political tension and uncertainty.

The FDD president expressed concern over the regional imbalance in the composition of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), noting that several commissioners hail from the same areas. 

He warned that this perception of bias erodes public confidence and called for equitable regional representation to guarantee impartiality and credibility.

Banda criticized the government for failing to enact the Political Parties Act, mandated by the Constitution in 2016, which is essential for regulating party operations, funding, and accountability. 

He urged authorities to provide a clear timeline for completing this law, highlighting its importance in ensuring a level playing field ahead of the elections.

On constitutional issues, Banda stressed the need for effective implementation of Constitutional Court rulings, including the controversial Bill 7. 

He said superficial consultations or symbolic gestures are inadequate. True dialogue must involve stakeholders across the country to address legal and political challenges comprehensively.

The FDD president also tackled the electricity crisis, rejecting claims that exports should take precedence over domestic supply. 

He warned that citizens’ hardships cannot be ignored while investors benefit, emphasizing the government’s duty to balance investor interests with the welfare of ordinary Zambians.

Banda highlighted the mismanagement of Zambia’s natural resources, noting that local communities have gained little despite the country’s mineral wealth. 

Citing emerald and other mineral exports, he argued that Zambians must receive tangible benefits from their own resources, while investors are not shielded from contributing fairly to national development.

Banda urged all parties to rally behind a single presidential candidate for 2026. He stressed that citizens expect a cohesive opposition capable of presenting a credible alternative to the ruling party. 

Unity, he clarified, does not require dissolving individual parties but demands prioritizing national interest over narrow political agendas. 

He warned that fragmentation weakens accountability and diminishes citizens’ trust in the political system.

Banda also called for fair and inclusive distribution of government positions across all regions. 

Appointments, he emphasized, should reflect Zambia’s geographic diversity to ensure that capable individuals from all parts of the country can serve. 

Equitable representation, he said, strengthens national unity and reinforces good governance.

In conclusion, Banda appealed for dialogue, patriotism, and collective responsibility among political leaders. 

He urged parties to prioritize the welfare of Zambians, bridge political divides, and collaborate to ensure transparent, inclusive, and credible elections.

He warned that ongoing division threatens democracy and stressed that national healing, unity, and patriotism are essential to secure a prosperous and stable future for Zambia and its citizens.