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The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) has announced its immediate withdrawal from the Tonse Alliance, ending its participation in the opposition coalition just days after the August 13 general elections in which its candidate, Brian Mundubile, announced himself winner ahead of official declaration of results by Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The announcement of withdrawal was made by NRPUP President, Ezra Tembo, during a media briefing in Lusaka on Sunday, where he said the party would now pursue its political agenda independently.
Tembo said the withdrawal follows internal consultations and an assessment of the Alliance’s performance before, during and after the elections.
“We joined the Tonse Alliance to give Zambians a credible alternative, but recent developments have made it untenable for us to remain under the current arrangement,” he said.
Tembo cited concerns over post-election conduct, the handling of grievances within the Alliance, and what he described as growing threats to political space.
He also expressed worry over the safety of its leaders, citing reports of intimidation, arrests and the refuge of the candidates at UN premises were not consistent with the democracy the country fought for.
Tembo said the party remained committed to constitutionalism and would continue to push for accountability through legal and democratic means.
“Our position is clear. We believe in reconciliation, unity and prosperity, and we will not be part of any structure that undermines those principles,” he said.
Tembo said NRPUP would not join the ruling UPND but would operate as an independent opposition party in Parliament and at constituency level.
He further noted, “Zambians deserve politics that unite, not divide. This decision allows us to speak freely and act in the best interest of the people without compromise.”
Tembo emphasized, “We are not abandoning the opposition project. We are repositioning to ensure that the voice of reconciliation is not lost in the current political climate.”
He stated that NRPUP was withdrawing from the Tonse Alliance with immediate effect and would continue to serve Zambia with integrity, and called on all citizens to remain calm and uphold peace.
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Recently, the party conceded defeat in Zambia’s August 13 presidential election and congratulated President Hichilema, raising questions over the future of the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance, which backed Mundubile as its presidential candidate.
The development created a potentially awkward political position for the alliance, which was preparing to challenge the presidential election result in the Constitutional Court while the party under which its presidential candidate contested the election had publicly accepted the outcome.
Tembo said his party had accepted the results and would take up its role as the official opposition in the National Assembly.
He congratulated President Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) on their victory and urged Zambians to move beyond the election and allow the new administration to govern.
“This was not our time. We accept the outcome and remain committed to serving Zambia,” Tembo said.
The Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance has indicated that it intends to challenge Hichilema’s victory in the Constitutional Court, citing concerns over the conduct and outcome of the election.
NRPUP’s concession was also notable because the party said it had made substantial gains in Parliament and had moved from having no MPs to becoming the main opposition party, with more than 60 Members of Parliament, council chairpersons and councillors.
“From zero, we are now the main opposition party with over 60 Members of Parliament, several Council Chairpersons, and Councilors across the country. This is no small achievement,” he said.
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