The Patriotic Front (PF) in Zambia is currently embroiled in a significant leadership dispute, following the unveiling of Makebi Zulu as the party's new President on Sunday, March 22, 2026. This announcement, made after an elective General Conference held on March 21, 2026, has sparked immediate and intense controversy, with key party figures and alliances rejecting the legitimacy of the process.

Makebi Zulu, a lawyer and close ally of the late former President Edgar Lungu, was declared victorious from a convention organized by a faction led by Given Lubinda. According to results compiled from 110 districts, Zulu secured 49.2 percent of the vote, followed by Chitalu Chilufya with 34.1 percent. Other contenders included Given Lubinda (8.7%), Chanda Katotobwe (4.8%), Greyford Monde (1.9%), and Chishimba Kambwili (1.4%). Zulu's elevation sees him taking over leadership from Hon. Given Lubinda and the late President Edgar Lungu. The PF Council of Elders, including senior figures like former Vice President Inonge Wina and Dr. Charles Banda, welcomed Zulu's election as a 'victorious development,' with Council Chairperson Hon. Ng’onga Mukupa expressing confidence that it would restore energy to the party and foster unity within the opposition.

Following his 'election,' Makebi Zulu made an immediate media appearance, presenting a measured, unifying, and deliberate tone. In an interview on Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba’s platform, he defined his election as a 'journey of healing,' acknowledging the years of internal strain, defections, legal disputes, and leadership battles that have plagued the PF. He praised the men he defeated, describing his new role as 'first among equals,' and embraced the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi—repairing broken pottery with gold—to symbolize his intention to be the 'glue' that holds the party together. Zulu expanded his vision to a 'Second Independence' for Zambia, calling for a new political culture free from vengeance, division, persecution, and prosecution. He emphasized restoring freedom of speech, lowering the cost of living, and ensuring national resources benefit Zambians, critically asking if citizens' lives have genuinely improved. He also advocated for restoring human rights, making institutions serve the people, and restraining presidential power, positioning himself as a reform candidate and appealing for wider opposition unity.

However, Zulu’s 'victory' is heavily contested. Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa and South Africa-based PF hopeful Willah Mudolo vehemently rejected the gathering, insisting it was not a legitimate party convention. Sampa mocked the event as a 'friendly social game' and asserted that a legally binding convention can only occur once court hurdles are cleared, with voting done on official PF-logo-branded ballot papers. Mudolo declared the claims of Zulu's election through a PF convention 'null and void,' stating that the party has not held its lawful and constitutionally recognized convention, and its constitution cannot be bent for personal ambition. The PF Pamodzi Alliance further clarified that the convention electing Zulu was intentionally not conducted in the name of the Patriotic Front to avoid contempt of court, citing ongoing legal proceedings and injunctions. Alliance National Youth Chairperson Ibrahim Mwamba urged the media not to mislead the public by calling it a PF convention.

The deep divisions within the party are underscored by several legal constraints. Matero MP Miles Sampa had previously insisted that the PF remains bound by an existing court order issued by Kabwe Judge-in-Charge Hancubwili Limbani, which effectively freezes attempts to formalize leadership structures. This position, reinforced by SACCORD Executive Director Arthur Muyunda, emphasizes that legitimacy must flow from court-sanctioned processes. Furthermore, Morgan Ng’ona remains the official PF Secretary General, protected by an interim injunction from the Court of Appeal, which restrains Sampa from interfering with Ng’ona’s duties or altering official records of PF office bearers at the Registrar of Societies. This injunction, granted on March 19, 2026, pending the determination of Ng’ona’s appeal against his expulsion, highlights the legal quagmire facing the party. Police presence around Zulu’s home following his declaration of victory further illustrates the prevailing tension.

While the PF navigates these internal conflicts, the broader political landscape is shifting. The party finds itself straddling the legacies of Edgar Lungu’s relaxed populism and Michael Sata/Brian Mundubile’s assertive, confrontational mobilization. However, the national mood is evolving, focusing more on consistency, economic direction, and visible progress rather than personality-driven political theatre. The real challenge for the PF may now be alignment with a maturing expectation for economic stability and delivery. For now, despite Zulu's ceremonial unveiling, the Patriotic Front's path forward and the resolution of its leadership question remain firmly tied to the courts.