Tonse Alliance SG Rejects Petition, Calls for Reconciliation

Tonse Alliance founder and Secretary General Dr Zumani Zimba has distanced himself from any move to petition the 2026 presidential result, calling instead for dialogue, healing and reconciliation following the alliance's defeat in last Thursday's election.

"With such fire, petitioning presidential results will be a big mistake," Dr Zimba said. "As for me, Tonse Alliance founder, SG and Chief Advisor, I will not be part of it. Let dialogue, healing, peace and reconciliation reign."

President Hakainde Hichilema was re-elected with 2,965,326 votes, or 61.4 percent of the valid votes cast. The Tonse Alliance's Brian Mundubile, who stood on the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) ticket, polled 1,855,217 votes, or 38 percent.

Mr Mundubile has signalled his intention to challenge the outcome through the courts, citing what he described as irregularities in the conduct, counting, transmission and declaration of results. However, his position appears increasingly isolated within the alliance. The Resolute Party, led by Dr Martin Phiri, described the poll as free and fair and pledged to rally behind President Hichilema rather than petition.

NRPUP President Ezra Tembo also congratulated the re-elected Head of State, saying the party accepted the outcome and respected the will of the people, while noting its pride at performing strongly as a party barely three months old.

Dr Zimba, meanwhile, has gone further, urging President Hichilema and Mr Mundubile to open urgent dialogue, warning that the divisions exposed by the election were dangerous and that the two men "are not eternal enemies."