Citizen First youth wing calls on leading opposition parties to unite in quest to dethrone ruling UPND

The Citizens First (CF) Party Youth Wing has urged the Patriotic Front (PF) and Socialist Party (SP) to consider merging with CF leader, Harry Kalaba, to build a united opposition capable of unseating the UPND in 2026.

CF Youth Chairperson, Maxson Chongu, said Zambians were eager to see unity of purpose among opposition parties, with the aim of rallying behind one presidential candidate ahead of next year’s general elections.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday, Chongu said that given the limited time before the polls, the only opposition parties with significant nationwide presence remained the PF, CF and SP.

He said CF President Harry Kalaba had consistently demonstrated willingness to collaborate with other opposition parties—reflecting the public’s demand for unity of purpose.

“Therefore our strong position as CF Youth Wing is to call the leadership of the Patriotic Front Party and Socialist Party to see the need of urgently merging with the Citizens First Party and give the Zambian people hope, ahead of 2026,” Chongu emphasized.

He also urged youth chairpersons across the opposition to recognize that political freedom without economic freedom — especially where oppression and injustice persist — was meaningless.

Chongu said youth leaders must be proactive in pushing their party leaders to unite and build a broad-based movement committed to “liberating Zambians.”

“Enough of giving lip service about alliances, it’s time for serious business of assembling a movement that is strong on the ground with solid structures countrywide,” he stated.

He encouraged leaders of the three major opposition parties to heed citizens’ calls and prioritise a national agenda anchored in unity, rather than personal ambitions tied to political positions.

Chongu also urged PF and SP leaders to begin working urgently with CF—and encouraged the wider opposition to join the movement.

He noted that efforts to form a strong opposition alliance since 2021 had been hampered by newly formed political parties that exist “on paper, Facebook and other social media platforms,” yet make unrealistic demands during alliance negotiations.

“Since 2021 it’s been extremely difficult to form a strong opposition Alliance because some newly formed political parties that only exist on paper, Facebook and other social media platforms overrate themselves with outrageous demands,” Chongu said.

He added that some leaders in established political parties, driven by an “insatiable appetite to become President,” were also making it difficult for alliances to take shape.

Chongu called on the Church, traditional leaders, human rights activists and NGOs to engage the leadership of the three key opposition parties to help establish a unified and inclusive movement ready to challenge the UPND in August, 2026.

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