Mundubile, Makebi take campaign to Lusaka as Hichilema heads for Muchinga
Mundubile and Makebi after filing nominations. Picture credit, Grindstone TV
LUSAKA, July 13, 2026 – The race for State House is set to intensify this week as Tonse Pamodzi Alliance-backed National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRP-UP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu shift their campaign to Lusaka Province, while President Hakainde Hichilema takes his re-election campaign to Muchinga Province.
After completing campaign tours of the Copperbelt, Central, Eastern, Muchinga, Northern and Luapula provinces, Mundubile and Zulu are expected to embark on an intensive four-day programme targeting both urban and peri-urban voters in Lusaka Province.
The move is seen as significant, with Lusaka regarded as one of the country’s key electoral battlegrounds alongside the Copperbelt because of its large concentration of registered voters.
According to the campaign programme released by Tonse Alliance Secretary General and NRP-UP Chief Presidential Adviser Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba, the opposition presidential ticket will begin its Lusaka campaign on Tuesday with a midday rally in Luangwa, followed by a road show in Rufunsa before concluding the day with an afternoon rally in Chongwe.
On Wednesday, the team will hold a midday rally in Kafue before proceeding to Chilanga for another campaign meeting later in the day.
The campaign will then move into the capital city on Thursday, with a series of road shows scheduled for Munali, Lusaka Central, Kabwata, Chawama, Makeni and Kanyama, areas considered crucial in determining the outcome of the presidential election.
On Friday, Mundubile and Makebi will continue with road shows in Roma, Lilanda and Mandevu before winding up the week’s programme with what the alliance has described as its main presidential rally for Lusaka Province in Matero.
The campaign comes after the opposition leaders held a series of large rallies across Northern and Luapula provinces, where they continued to promise what they describe as a “reset” of Zambia’s economy, improvements to free education, agricultural reforms and job creation.
Hichilema heads to Muchinga
President Hichilema at Youth Indaba
Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to campaign in Muchinga Province, continuing his nationwide re-election tour after concluding campaigns in Lusaka Province.
The UPND leader has been urging voters to grant him a second term, arguing that his administration has laid a strong foundation through free education, economic reforms, infrastructure development and agricultural support programmes.
He has also consistently warned voters against returning leaders associated with the former Patriotic Front (PF), saying the country should protect the progress made over the past five years.
Battle for Lusaka
The entry of Mundubile and Makebi into Lusaka Province is expected to provide one of the biggest tests yet of the opposition’s growing campaign momentum.
Political analysts widely regard Lusaka as one of the country’s decisive battlegrounds due to its large voting population and diverse electorate, where issues such as the cost of living, employment, transport, housing and public service delivery often dominate political debate.
With exactly one month remaining before the August 13 General Election, both the ruling UPND and the opposition Tonse Pamodzi Alliance are expected to intensify their campaigns as they seek to consolidate support in provinces considered critical to determining Zambia’s next President.