Sinkamba challenges HH to fresh election

…as the Green Party leader says UPND’s 14-0 by-election sweep does not prove popularity and demands a level playing field because cooperating partners are ready to sponsor fresh elections.

By NATION REPORTER

GREEN Party president Peter Sinkamba has challenged President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND to dissolve Parliament and call a fresh general election, stating that the ruling party’s claimed 14-0 by-election sweep does not demonstrate genuine popularity.

Mr Sinkamba said winning seats in uncontested elections following opposition withdrawals and intimidation, amounted to “claiming victory in an empty ring.”

“Claiming victory in an empty ring is not popularity - it is cowardice,” Mr Sinkamba said in a statement.

He said the UPND’s celebration of the 14-0 by-election results should instead raise questions about the state of democracy in Zambia.

“Let us call this what it actually is: a race where the regime blocked or forced out the opposition before claiming first place,” Mr Sinkamba said.

He said opposition parties had been subjected to state intimidation and said uncontested victories could not be used as evidence of broad public support.

“Winning uncontested seats in an environment driven by opposition withdrawals and state intimidation doesn’t prove popularity. It proves democratic decay,” Mr Sinkamba said.

He also referred to concerns raised by the European Union Election Observation Mission and other observers during the August 2026 general election, alleging security-force and military overreach at polling centres and courts, irregularities in the tallying process and missing G19 and G20 results forms.

The opposition leaders said the alleged irregularities had raised questions about the credibility of the election outcome.

“If HH and the UPND are truly as popular as they claim, why hide behind sham by-elections?” Mr Sinkamba asked.

He challenged President Hichilema to test the ruling party’s popularity through a fresh national election.

“Dissolve Parliament and call a fresh general election today. Clear the slate, level the playing field, and face a full ballot,” Mr Sinkamba said.

He said Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his alliance were prepared for a fresh election.

“Mundubile and the Tonse Alliance are ready for fresh election. The ball is in the court of President Hakainde Hichilema and UPND,” the opposition leader said.

Mr Sinkamba also claimed that the EU and other cooperating partners were prepared to finance a fresh election to help restore political normalcy in Zambia.

Ends.