PF faction leader, Chabinga, pays K5,000 for Munir Zulu’s haircut in surprise show of political courtesy

Patriotic Front (PF) faction leader, Robert Chabinga, on Tuesday reportedly showed what some observers are calling the “human side” of politics after he stepped in to pay K5,000 for a haircut for former Lumezi lawmaker Munir Zulu at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka.

The unexpected gesture came just days after Zulu’s release from prison, adding a surprise moment of goodwill to Zambia’s often combative political environment.

According to Zulu, the encounter happened by chance when the two met at the hotel’s barbershop.

Zulu later shared the moment on his Facebook page, expressing appreciation for the gesture and reflecting on the need for civility in politics.

“I can confirm that I had gone to Raddison Blue hotel for my hair cut and bumped into Honourable chabinga who offered himself to pay for the services…

“K5000 given for my barbershop, I am grateful as it shows that when you differ on political ideas does not mean that you can’t help one pay bills in life,” Zulu wrote.

The former lawmaker described the act as an example that political rivalry did not have to erase basic humanity, noting that people with opposing views could still support one another in everyday situations.

Zulu was released from prison on March 7 after completing his sentence along with an additional 90 days, bringing to an end a period of incarceration that drew widespread attention across political circles and on social media.

Following his release, he posted a reflective message on his Facebook page, writing: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

He also suggested that despite the challenges he faced while incarcerated, he had chosen forgiveness.

“Small hearts don’t forgive but they revenge, guess what i have forgiven them all!! Forgiving means I should share the real story. I will soon share the prison life and why zambia corrections remain prison and why those pardoned come out as hard-core than they went in,” Zulu wrote.

With his release confirmed, the former Lumezi Member of Parliament has now returned to public life after serving the full prison term imposed by the court.

Family spokesperson Chanoda Ngwira confirmed that Zulu was reunited with his family and was in good health following his release.

Ngwira said the former lawmaker was currently taking time to recover from the experience of imprisonment.

He added that during the period of incarceration, many supporters reached out through social media to offer encouragement.

Ngwira said the family remained grateful for the support, noting that the messages of solidarity helped them endure what he described as a difficult chapter.

Meanwhile, political observers say Zulu could soon re-enter the political arena, with reports suggesting he may be eyeing the Lusaka Central parliamentary seat after losing his Lumezi seat.

For now, however, a simple haircut — and an unexpected act of generosity — has provided a rare moment of political civility in Zambia’s often polarized landscape.

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