Former Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has vehemently stated that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) will not be permitted to dictate who contests against President Hakainde Hichilema in the upcoming general elections. Hon. Kampyongo emphasized that this determination should not come from UPND's proxies at the Electoral Commission of Zambia or any other entity, but rather through the democratic choices of the Zambian people. His remarks were a direct response to concerns circulating about alleged maneuvers to introduce regulations aimed at barring popular opposition candidates from participating in presidential elections.

Beyond the electoral process, Hon. Kampyongo, who also serves as the Tonse Alliance Chairperson for Parliamentary Affairs, voiced significant concern over the UPND's alleged engagement in lawlessness by disregarding its own internal rules. This concern stems from recent dramatic events surrounding the party's general assembly, claims of expired mandates for its office bearers, and the alleged sudden takeover of the party by a member named Patrick Tembo Banda as Acting President. Kampyongo warned that allowing individuals who disrespect their own organizational rules to lead the nation poses a significant danger. He further reminded the UPND that the destruction of the Patriotic Front (PF) would yield no benefit, but instead foster an environment of lawlessness, a situation he believes should not be associated with a ruling party that ought to set an example.

Kampyongo expressed a watchful stance regarding the ongoing internal disputes within the UPND, particularly the legal challenges. "We will wait and see how the courts handle this UPND issue. We do not want to celebrate the way they celebrated the Miles Sampa convention issue; we want to see order," he stated. He cited his worry, reinforced by listening to Charles Longwe (who initiated a lawsuit over expired mandates) on private TV stations, that the ruling party itself could be the first to engage in lawlessness. This raises the alarming prospect that if the ruling party ignores its own rules, it might eventually disregard the Republican Constitution, potentially extending its stay in office beyond its mandate, which Kampyongo noted could end on August 13. He stressed that the issues raised by UPND citizens must not be overlooked due to their profound implications for national governance.

The core of this internal contention lies with Mr. Patrick Tembo Banda and his colleague Charles Longwe, who have plunged the ruling party into a leadership dispute. They assert that the current office holders are serving illegally, as their mandate reportedly expired in February 2026. Pundits suggest that Mr. Banda, having purported to assume the role of interim UPND President, might stand on firm legal ground. This analysis is bolstered by a recent High Court judgment from Justice Conceptor Chinyanwa Zulu in the Miles Sampa case, which ruled that in the absence of the Central Committee, a party member can indeed take over as President. Following his alleged takeover, Mr. Banda has reportedly appointed Mr. Longwe as the Secretary General of the UPND. Intriguingly, Mr. Banda has been photographed alongside the current First Lady, Mutinta Hichilema, during an event where Mr. Hakainde Hichilema was unveiled as party President, succeeding the late Anderson Kambela Mazoka, highlighting his historical connection to the party's leadership.

In contrast to the reported internal strife, Hon. Mufalali provided an update on the party's official internal electoral process. He clarified that elections within the lower organs of the party are currently in progress, forming an integral part of the broader electoral roadmap that will ultimately lead to the selection of the party's top leadership. Furthermore, Mufalali announced that members aspiring to contest for the prestigious position of party president will be required to pay a nomination fee of K100,000. This development officially marks the commencement of a crucial democratic process within the ruling party, offering its members the opportunity to vie for leadership roles at various organizational tiers, despite the parallel leadership dispute unfolding.