The Editor Zambia
While people are just focusing on Given Lubinda joining the UPND, they are missing another bombshell revelation, in which Lubinda is disclosing that even Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu privately acknowledge that President Hakainde Hichilema is delivering on many fronts.
According to Lubinda, the two opposition figures are aware of the progress being recorded under the UPND administration but are unable to publicly admit it because of their own political ambitions and calculations. 
This revelation further strengthens the argument that the debate is no longer about whether the government is delivering but whether some political actors are willing to acknowledge that reality openly.
If politics is ultimately about survival, relevance and aligning oneself with prevailing national realities, then Given Lubinda’s decision to join the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is not only understandable but politically rational.
For years, Lubinda was one of the most loyal and resilient figures within the Patriotic Front (PF). He stood with the party during its formative years, defended it through difficult moments, and remained steadfast even after its dramatic loss of power in 2021.
Following the death of former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu, many expected Lubinda’s experience, loyalty, and leadership credentials to naturally place him at the forefront of rebuilding the party.
However, events within the PF suggested otherwise.
Despite demonstrating maturity and stability during one of the party’s most difficult periods, Lubinda encountered resistance from influential factions within the party.
Observers pointed to elements associated with the Chambeshi-Luangwa political grouping who reportedly viewed Lubinda with suspicion because of his mixed-race parentage.
The party has a legacy of this attitude, demonstrated when it rejected Guy Scott, who was arguably better placed to replace Michael Sata but was overlooked in favour of Edgar Lungu.
In a nation that prides itself on unity in diversity, such considerations were unfortunate and deeply retrogressive.
The tacit rejection of Lubinda by sections of the PF leadership and membership, including influential figures aligned to Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, raised difficult questions about the future direction of the former ruling party.
If merit, competence, and loyalty could be overshadowed by questions of ancestry, then the PF risked alienating some of its most capable leaders.
Ironically, this was not the first time Lubinda faced hostility within the movement he helped build.
Long-time political observers will recall that even during the leadership of the late President Michael Sata, Lubinda was frequently treated with suspicion.
At one point, he was physically assaulted by party cadres despite being one of the party’s senior leaders. His political journey within the PF was often marked by perseverance in the face of internal hostility.
The comments attributed to Lubinda, therefore, reflected more than mere political convenience. They suggested a politician who had reached certain conclusions after years of experience.
According to his remarks, Lubinda has acknowledged that the UPND administration under President Hakainde Hichilema has made significant progress in areas where PF struggled.
Among the achievements one can cite are debt restructuring, improved economic management, expanded Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations, the reduction of cadre violence, and continued efforts to combat corruption.
These are not insignificant observations.
Even some critics of the government acknowledge that Zambia’s successful debt restructuring represented a major milestone after years of financial uncertainty.
The expanded CDF programme has brought unprecedented resources to local communities, while the disappearance of widespread cadreism has created a more orderly political environment compared to previous years.
In many respects, Lubinda’s position mirrors that earlier taken by Miles Sampa, who has also publicly endorsed President Hichilema’s leadership.
Political opponents may dismiss such endorsements as opportunism. Yet politics is often about recognising realities on the ground.
Leaders who fail to adapt to changing circumstances risk becoming prisoners of the past.
By joining the UPND, Lubinda has effectively signalled that he believes President Hichilema is steering Zambia in the right direction.
Rather than an act of betrayal, his move can be interpreted as an acknowledgement of achievements that he believes serve the national interest.
The development represents one of the most significant political realignments in recent Zambian politics.
It underscores the changing dynamics of a political landscape where former rivals increasingly find common ground on issues of governance and national development.
In politics, as in life, yesterday’s opponents often become today’s allies. Given Lubinda’s decision to join the UPND stands as a reminder that political realities frequently triumph over old loyalties and that national interests can sometimes create unlikely partnerships.
