Zambia's Political Earthquake: Mundubile Shakes Up 2026 Race With Shocking Endorsements & Controversial Promises

Zambians have reportedly endured five years of economic hardship, marked by rising poverty and diminishing opportunities, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND government, according to former Minister of National Development Planning, Hon. Mulusa. Speaking on Hot FM’s Red Hot Breakfast Show, Hon. Mulusa observed a significant decline in public confidence, noting that positive sentiment towards the current administration has become rare. He argued that the majority of Zambians are frustrated by the high cost of living, limited job opportunities, and the government’s perceived failure to deliver on its campaign promises.

Hon. Mulusa, who holds a Master’s Degree in Development Finance and a Master of Philosophy in Sustainable Development, also questioned the government’s announcement of Zambia’s international reserves reaching US$6.5 billion. He pointed out that the Bank of Zambia had previously reported reserves of approximately US$5.5 billion in December 2025, making a US$1 billion increase within three months difficult to reconcile with prevailing economic conditions. He suggested that an economy like Zambia’s would struggle to generate such an increase through domestic activity alone, calling for a clear explanation of the figures' source if accurate.

Addressing the mining sector, Hon. Mulusa, a former MMD Member of Parliament for Solwezi Central Constituency, criticized the government’s tax priorities. He questioned why ordinary Zambians continue to bear a heavy tax burden while large mining companies receive generous, unrequested tax incentives. These incentives, he noted, were justified by promises of reinvestment to expand copper production to three million metric tonnes and create thousands of jobs, none of which have materialized. Recalling the MMD government's introduction of the Windfall Tax under President Levy Mwanawasa when copper prices were around US$5,000 per tonne, Hon. Mulusa questioned why Zambia is not proportionately benefiting from its mineral wealth now that copper prices reportedly reach US$14,000 per tonne. He added that despite tax concessions, employment in the mining sector has not significantly increased, as companies have invested in mechanized equipment, leading to less employment and reduced Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax revenue for the government.

As the former Secretary General of the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA), Hon. Mulusa also dismissed recent remarks by President Hakainde Hichilema referring to Hon. Brian Mundubile and Hon. Makebi Zulu as “boys,” describing them as unfortunate and beneath the dignity of a Head of State. He highlighted that President Hichilema was 28 when entrusted with a leading role in Zambia’s privatization programme and 42 when he became UPND President. In contrast, Hon. Brian Mundubile is 55, and Hon. Makebi Zulu is 45. Mulusa questioned why men of such ages, who have distinguished themselves in public service as elected Members of Parliament and senior government roles, should be belittled. He concluded that Zambia deserves politics anchored on ideas, competence, and practical solutions rather than personal attacks, urging citizens to judge aspiring leaders by their proven record, character, and capacity to unite and deliver economic transformation.

Amidst these criticisms of the current administration, opposition candidate Brian Mundubile is conducting an energetic campaign, characterized by rapid speeches, confident stage presence, and an informal style, often referring to President Hakainde Hichilema as “my brother HH.” His speeches aim to create momentum, keeping the opposition at the center of national conversation. Mundubile has made an extraordinary range of commitments, including cancelling student loans, increasing student meal allowances, introducing debt swaps for civil servants, raising miners’ salaries by 300 percent, creating dedicated banks for women and young people, establishing new ministries, expanding fertiliser support, providing heavy equipment to farmers and artisanal miners, redirecting the Zambia National Service into infrastructure development, and accelerating stalled public projects.

However, the fiscal framework binding these proposals has been questioned. Mundubile’s remarks in Eastern Province, suggesting that foreign exchange reserves matter little if citizens remain poor and that his government would prioritize livelihoods over macroeconomic indicators, have drawn scrutiny. Foreign exchange reserves are strategic assets held by the central bank to finance imports, support the exchange rate, reassure investors, and protect the economy during external stress, as illustrated by Zambia’s own experience with debt distress and currency instability. While criticizing the pace at which macroeconomic gains reach households is a legitimate political argument, suggesting reserves are of little value enters uncertain territory.

Mundubile's record in the Patriotic Front administration, during which Zambia accumulated unsustainable debt, defaulted on external obligations, and entered a complex sovereign debt restructuring, places a greater burden on him to explain how his economic philosophy differs. Thus far, that explanation has remained incomplete, with ambitious announcements often lacking the policy architecture needed to support them, such as details on establishing, capitalizing, or regulating proposed dedicated banks for women and young people in Mpika. In Petauke, he suggested that former MP Jay Jay Banda had already built dozens of health posts and that a Tonse government would complete them.

Speaking at a rally in Chinsali of Muchinga Province, Mundubile told the gathering that late President Edgar Lungu deserves to be laid to rest with dignity and respect, promising that if he and Makebi Zulu win, they will honor and bury Lungu with respect. Former Member of Parliament for Mpika, Francis Kapyanga, has endorsed Mundubile, stating that Zambia is headed for disaster unless people vote for National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) Presidential candidate, Brian Mundubile. Kapyanga urged Mundubile to care for the people of Mpika in the same manner as the Sixth President Edgar Lungu did, expressing hope that Zambians will give Mundubile the Presidency on August 13. While Mundubile has injected energy into the opposition and given former PF supporters a new political vehicle, the presidency demands mastery of public finance, constitutional governance, economic management, and institutional leadership, requiring candidates to not only inspire but also convince voters of their competence.