Zambian Opposition Leader Brian Mundubile's Rally Violently Disrupted by Police!

Zambia Police on Thursday reportedly discharged heavy teargas on the convoy of leading opposition candidate, Brian Mundubile, and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, during a campaign rally in Kalingalinga, Lusaka. This action allegedly resulted in a minor being injured. Mundubile publicly condemned the incident on his Facebook page on July 16, 2026, stating that police fired teargas at his members and innocent citizens in an attempt to halt their peaceful roadshow. He affirmed the party's position that their campaign was lawful and would proceed as scheduled under the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) calendar, vowing that the Alliance would not be silenced by intimidation.

However, the Zambia Police Service dismissed social media reports claiming officers shot and killed several people in Kalingalinga and Mtendere compounds, clarifying that no lives were lost. Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi stated that officers discharged tear smoke canisters for crowd control and management. He explained that a pellet from one of the canisters inadvertently struck the leg of a girl from Mtendere Compound, who was at some distance from the operational area. The minor received medical attention at Mtendere Clinic and was subsequently discharged. Chilabi confirmed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident have been initiated and urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information that could cause unnecessary panic.

In response to the incident, the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) President, Banda, strongly condemned the police's disruption of Mundubile and Zulu’s peaceful roadshow. Banda advised the Zambia Police to demonstrate restraint and allow political campaigns to proceed without unnecessary interruptions. He highlighted that the ECZ's campaign timetable was already perceived as an attempt to slow down the BM8 campaign, yet the team had complied without protest. He expressed disappointment that the police would then stop a campaign that was already adhering to the established schedule.

Furthermore, Banda urged the police to allow the will of the people to take precedence over politicians, emphasizing that halting campaigns would disadvantage various candidates, particularly front-runner Brian Mundubile. He called upon all institutions involved in the electoral process to apply the law equally to ensure a flourishing democracy. Banda also appealed to all supporters of the BM8 and MZ campaign to attend the upcoming rally in Matero in large numbers while maintaining the peaceful conduct demonstrated throughout their campaign period.