By EditorZambia
THE Patriotic Front (PF) is finished, gone, dead, and buried.
Infighting now defines the former ruling party. This is why the PF can never salvage its political woes 
For a party that once swaggered with the confidence of a political colossus, today’s Patriotic Front (PF)—of the once-thunderous Pabwato chant—now resembles a bruised vessel drifting without direction, leaking credibility faster than it can patch its fractures.
The PF’s dream of a 2026 comeback is no longer a political debate; it is a political fantasy.
Zambia’s opposition, led by the PF, is heading into the next election cycle carrying the same weaknesses that cost it power: bitter infighting, cadreism violence, shaky party structures, no national vision, and a ruling party that has out-organised and out-performed it at every turn.
The ruling UPND is not merely ahead—it is miles ahead.
Towering over this political landscape is President Hakainde Hichilema, a leader the PF- led opposition has tried and failed to break.
They have thrown insults, misinformation, conspiracy theories, and coordinated smear campaigns his way. Yet the more they attack him, the more it exposes their desperation. Every insult they hurl at him ricochets back as evidence that they have no policy platform, no organisational discipline, and no leadership bench.
The Opposition Has Tried Every Shortcut—and Failed
When a political movement loses direction, it resorts to stunts. Zambia has witnessed how the opposition has attempted every shortcut imaginable:
- Calling for Zambians to “rise” against government
- Branding President Hichilema as an autocrat without evidence
- Lobbying Western governments to interfere in domestic politics
- Launching misinformation campaigns on social media
None of it has worked—not because government is flawless, but because the opposition has become allergic to hard work.
They want power without preparation, sympathy without sacrifice, and relevance without rebuilding.
The Oasis Forum: The Opposition’s New Political Trojan Horse
One cannot ignore the renewed flirtation between some opposition figures and the Oasis Forum. While the Oasis Forum presents itself as a neutral civil society, its recent behaviour increasingly mirrors the frustrations of the once-dominant ethnic politicians, struggling to accept that national power has shifted.
Instead of fixing their broken political parties, some opposition leaders appear to be using the Oasis Forum as a surrogate political platform.
But the civil society can not do the heavy lifting for political parties that refuse to heal, organise, or reform. A shadow alliance can not replace a real political movement.
Infighting Now Defines the PF
Nothing illustrates the PF’s collapse more clearly than the party’s recent internal chaos.
Acting PF national chairperson Jean Kapata’s blistering public statement exposed the scale of disorder eating the former ruling party from within.
Kapata revealed that while some PF officials were attending the burial of a senior party member, others were allegedly busy mobilising cadres to boo faction acting Party president Given Lubinda at a public event.
Not debate. Not ideological contestation. Booing. That is how far the party has fallen.
Kapata did not mince words: The behaviour is “disgraceful.” It is “planned humiliation and disorder.” It is “a serious breach of party discipline.”
Her message was direct: anyone organising indiscipline must face suspension. And who was she reffing to? Brian Mundubile. Yes, the same Brian Mundubile who wants to take over the leadership of PF – the same Brian Mundubile who wants to be president of Zambia in 2026. Brian Mundubile and his cronies mobilised cadres too boo Lubinda at a funeral gathering! How would one wonder the PF’s behaviour following the supposedly death of 6th president Edgar Chagwa Lungu. This is their character – they cherish violence – it’s their life, forever.
Hence, Kapata’s warning exposes the truth that the PF has tried to hide—its internal fractures are no longer political disagreements; they are full-blown sabotage missions.
Kapata’s remarks also pierced the myth that the PF is ready for 2026.
How can a party dreaming of State House fail to maintain order even at funerals?
How can leaders who cannot manage cadres expect to manage a nation?
Invoking the legacy of Michael Sata, Kapata reminded members that the PF was founded as a peaceful movement.
Today’s PF is a pale imitation, defined more by internal hostility than national vision.
The PF’s Crisis Is Not New—It Is Structural
Lubinda’s recent reshuffles, which were meant to project renewal, have only highlighted the same old weaknesses: recycled loyalists, factional bitterness, collapsing grassroots structures, leaders pulling in opposite directions, no ideological compass, and no national policy blueprint
The PF is not rebuilding. It is rearranging political furniture in a collapsing house like previous ruling political parties, UNIP, and the MMD.
Other Opposition Political Parties Are No Better
Beyond the PF, the opposition landscape remains a patchwork of small political parties united not by vision but by anger.
The Socialist Party of one Fred Namakando Mmembe, a media guru turned politician, remains trapped in ideological nostalgia.
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) of social media activist Sean Tembo has become a one-man commentary platform rather than a party.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Democratic Party (DP) have splintered so often that voters can barely tell who leads them today.
None of these political parties has built the machinery needed to contest a national election. Then, we have a cluster of political clubs like the New Heritage party and others.
Together, they present criticism—not solutions. Emotion—not strategy. Noise—not numbers.
Meanwhile, the UPND is running a completely different race.
While the opposition is busy fighting itself, the UPND is governing, reforming, attracting investment, and tightening institutional controls.
Zambia’s political centre has shifted—not through tribal arithmetic but through electoral evolution.
President Hichilema has become the dominant political figure of this era. The opposition knows it. And that knowledgement fuels its attacks, frustrations, and increasingly erratic behaviour.
2026 Is Already Lost for the Opposition
Barring a miracle, Zambia’s opposition can not salvage 2026.
Its wounds are self-inflicted.
Its structures are weak.
Its messaging is incoherent.
Its leaders are consumed by rivalry, nostalgia, and bitterness.
Meanwhile, the UPND is already running its 2026 race with discipline and structure.
The opposition is not losing because the UPND is undefeatable. It is losing because it has defeated itself.
