Chabinga Kicks Lungu Out of PF

Acting Patriotic Front President Robert Chabinga has expelled former Republican President Edgar Lungu from the party citing gross indiscipline. The news comes after the newly formed Tonse Alliance named Lungu as its candidate for the 2026 Presidential Elections.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Chabinga also expelled other PF heavyweights from the party including former Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa, former Justice Minister Given Lubinda, and former PF Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda.

Chabinga, who is the MP for Mafina constituency, further explained that the PF would be holding a constitution amendment convention to make changes to the party leadership structure and address gaps in its constitution. No date has yet been announced for this conference.

On Wednesday,  Tonse Alliance Chair Dan Pule called President Lungu’s selection as the party’s candidate for 2026 a “game changer”.

Lungu, who previously said he was retiring from politics following his defeat by President Hakainde Hichilema in 2021’s landslide election, returned to the frontline in 2023 to claim leadership of the PF. This led to a schism within the party, with a rival faction led by Miles Sampa splitting off.  

Lungu then went on to set up the United Kwacha Alliance – a cobbled together coalition of minor opposition parties. This alliance lasted only a few months before Lungu moved on to his latest political project.

Meanwhile there remains controversy over whether Lungu is even eligible to run in the 2026 elections, having twice been sworn in as Republican President in 2015 (following the death of President Michael Sata) and again in 2016 after narrowly defeating President Hichilema’s UPND. The matter has been referred to the Constitutional Court, which is due to give its verdict on 10 December.