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United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) President, Charles Chanda, has cautioned Zambians against joining politics for personal financial gain, saying individuals seeking public office should demonstrate financial stability and genuine commitment to service.
Chanda urged citizens to elect leaders who were dedicated to serving the nation rather than exploiting public office through corruption, theft, or embezzlement of public resources once elected.
The UPPZ leader made the remarks after officially confirming his intention to contest the presidency in the 2026 General Elections, scheduled for August, after paying the K100,000 presidential nomination fee.
He said the nomination fee was reasonable and encouraged those unable to afford it to consider alternative livelihoods such as farming instead of entering politics.
Chanda further stated that aspiring candidates should not view the nomination fee as excessive for the highest office in the land, stressing that leadership required both commitment and capacity.
“Politics is a serious business, not a matter of buying a first car as president,” he said. “UPPZ is also open to talks on alliances, but alliances must not be formed simply to punish individuals.”
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He noted that UPPZ had never been invited to join any political alliance, a situation he said had allowed the party to remain independent and principled.
Chanda also expressed concern that the media had been unfair to him by consistently excluding his name from lists of presidential contenders.
He further highlighted challenges facing many parts of the country, including poor road infrastructure and inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, calling for more inclusive planning and equitable resource allocation.
Chanda said that while urban areas had recorded notable development, rural communities continued to be left behind.
He reaffirmed UPPZ’s strong rural development agenda, saying the party understood the struggles of rural populations and is committed to addressing them.
Chanda also called for peace and national unity, warning against attempts to seize power at all costs for selfish interests.
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