Citizens First alleges plot by presidency to weaken party by financing bribery scheme

The Citizens First (CF) party has reportedly unearthed what it described as a coordinated scheme sanctioned and financed by State House to destabilize the party’s growing momentum ahead of the 2026 general elections.

CF Secretary-General, Vincent Chintu, claimed that credible information availed to the party indicated that a bribery plan had been rolled out by what he termed the “desperate UPND administration,” targeting the party’s provincial and district chairpersons across the country.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Chintu said the alleged scheme aimed to induce defections through monetary offers, false promises, and intimidation, followed by extensive coverage on state-controlled media to create the illusion of a crumbling opposition.

“This ploy runs parallel to another sinister effort to corrupt selected leaders at national level through similar inducements,” he alleged.

Chintu said the party was fully aware of the plot but remained unfazed and unmoved. He added that, on the contrary, the alleged acts only reinforced Citizens First’s conviction that it was the true alternative and government-in-waiting come 2026.

“As history reminds us, no army can stop an idea whose time has come. Indeed, the idea of a new Zambia built on justice, service, and human dignity has come. No amount of bribery, propaganda, or coercion will halt the march of the people towards a leadership that puts citizens first,” he said.

He urged all party structures and members to stand firm, remain vigilant, and resist any attempts to buy their loyalty, stressing that Citizens First was a movement anchored on principles, not price tags.

Chintu further stated that the UPND’s alleged acts of desperation were testimony to its impending downfall as a one-term government “gasping for political survival,” while Citizens First remained resolute, disciplined, and ready to form government in 2026.

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