CONFUSION has gripped the Patriotic Front after its faction secretary general, Raphael Nakachinda, warned against anyone imposing themselves as party leader.
Nakachinda warned PF supporters against self-proclaimed successors, seemingly targeting acting faction president Given Lubinda.
Lubinda is touring the country, claiming to be the PF and Tonse Alliance’s anointed leader. 
Speaking to PF supporters this morning, Nakachinda cautioned against anyone claiming to be the party’s successor.
Nakachinda further ordered his supporters to be ready to fight for the party.
Last week, PF die-hard Chanoda Ngwira accused Lubinda of pocketing $200,000 from a South African businessman in exchange for the PF presidency.
Ngwira, who is a member of the Umodzi Kumawa group, further accused PF Nakachinda of receiving $150,000.
Clearly, Lubinda and Nakachinda, the two former allies, have now become sworn enemies and can’t see eye to eye.
Meanwhile the squabbles have hit the Tonse Alliance following spokesperson and PeP president, Sean Tembo, move to suspend Ambassador Webby Mwape for allegedly declaring support for Lubinda, as the Alliance’s 2026 presidential candidate.
In a suspension letter dated September 16, Tembo accused Ambassador Mwape of bringing the Alliance into disrepute after a video circulated on social media, showing him stating that the Alliance had endorsed Lubinda.
Tembo insisted that Lubinda remains an ordinary member of the Tonse Alliance council of leaders and has never been adopted as a candidate.
He warned that Mwape’s pronouncement amounted to “gross misconduct” and a breach of the Alliance’s constitution.
However, Mwape’s suspension has added to the perception of widening cracks within the Tonse Alliance, where divisions over leadership and the 2026 race have been growing.
The suspension, coming at a time when the Alliance is already grappling with cohesion challenges, is likely to fuel further speculation about its stability ahead of the crucial 2026 elections.
