Baby Born With Teeth: How Mundubile’s Alliance Shook HH But Couldn’t Bite!

*By Prince Bill M. Kaping’a *

Part 1

After suffering a shock defeat in the August 2021 general elections, Lungu abruptly announced his retirement from active politics. However, he soon reversed that decision and sought to reclaim leadership of the party.

Like any party recovering from an electoral loss, the PF was expected to hold a convention, usher in new leaders, and focus on rebuilding. That did not happen. Instead, the party inflicted injuries on itself that caused it to hemorrhage, leading to a split into several factions.

The crisis began with a controversial convention in October 2023 that installed Miles Sampa as party leader. A High Court ruling in March 2024 reaffirmed Sampa as PF president for the 2023-2028 term.

Soon after, the Robert Chabinga faction emerged. It was recognised by the Registrar of Societies and in Parliament, positioned itself as a reformist group, and aligned with the ruling UPND.

Once Lungu had gathered enough courage, he declared his return to politics and effectively took over what was left of the former ruling party.

He remained in the background while Given Lubinda held the fort as Acting President, with the firebrand Raphael Nakacinda serving as Secretary General. The group presented itself as the bridge between the Lungu era and the future. It immediately began pushing for an Extraordinary Convention to elect new leaders, even as it fought running legal battles with the Chabinga camp in court.

Following the Constitutional Court’s decision to disqualify Lungu from contesting the 2026 general elections — and of course his eventual passing — the faction eased Lubinda out of leadership and moved to crown Brian Mundubile, the Mporokoso MP, as its new leader.

Positioning itself as election-ready, the group embarked on serious mobilization, particularly on the Copperbelt and in Lusaka. Sensing that the PF would not appear on the ballot papers, Mundubile opted to contest under a little-known political party, the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity — NRPUP. He would eventually enter into a marriage of convenience with several small political parties and form the Tonse Alliance.

In no time, prominent Lusaka lawyer Makebi Zulu, who had assumed the role of the Lungu family spokesperson after Lungu’s death, joined the fray and launched his own Resolute Party. It became the anchor of the PF Pamodzi Alliance.

Before long, Mundubile and Makebi formed an alliance that would later prove to be “a baby born with teeth.” Almost overnight, the partnership turned the political landscape upside down, drawing massive crowds to rallies and record followings on social media platforms.

One thing was clear: although PF had lost the 2021 general elections, its support base had remained intact and was eager to reclaim power by all means.

Frustrated with Hichilema over load shedding, the soaring price of the staple food mealie-meal, and the cost of fuel, the electorate along the line of rail seemed to be drawn to what Mundubile was offering.

Baby Born With Teeth: How Mundubile’s Alliance Shook HH But Couldn’t Bite!