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The Tonse Alliance in Eastern Province has called on residents of the region to carefully scrutinize recent political endorsements being made by some Members of Parliament during presidential visits.
Several MPs from both the opposition and the ruling UPND have reportedly endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema as their preferred candidate for the August 13, 2026 general election.
Tonse Alliance Eastern Province Chairperson, Maxson Nkhoma, told Zambia Monitor in an interview that although elected representatives had the democratic right to express their support, such endorsements must genuinely reflect the aspirations of the people — not personal business interests tied to government contracts.
Nkhoma emphasized that holding public office carried a responsibility to prioritize community welfare above individual gain.
He noted a pattern in which the same MPs consistently issued endorsements each time President Hichilema visited Eastern Province.
“If the ruling UPND were experiencing broad-based grassroots growth in the province, one would expect to see wider and more diverse community voices emerging in support, rather than endorsement from the same people all the time,” Nkhoma said.
He added that the Tonse Alliance remained concerned that these endorsements failed to address critical issues affecting residents of Eastern Province, including agricultural policy challenges and high youth unemployment.
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Nkhoma also claimed there were public expectations around fairness and transparency in public service recruitment, as well as concerns over selective application of justice by the judiciary.
“The people of Eastern Province are politically aware and capable of distinguishing between genuine public sentiment and individual politicians positioning themselves for government businesses,” he said.
He stressed that endorsements alone should not be mistaken for the broader voice of the electorate.
Nkhoma further stated that the Tonse Alliance was confident that the people of Eastern Province continued to seek accountable leadership and inclusive development.
“Under the leadership of President Brian Mundubile, the Alliance will continue engaging communities and presenting its alternative vision ahead of 13th August 2026,” Nkhoma said.
He argued that ultimately, the ballot would provide the clearest and most credible endorsement — one that reflected the collective will of the people.
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