Mwanza’s New Party Fails to Bring Clarity to Opposition

Today, 10 September 2025, Antonio Mwanza officially launched the Development Progressive Party (DPP), presenting it as a new chapter in Zambian politics. In reality, it underscores the fragmentation and lack of coherence within the opposition ahead of the 2026 elections.

Mwanza, a former senior figure in the Patriotic Front and later deputy general secretary of the Socialist Party, now promises a movement led by and for young people. While the party’s objectives touch on economic independence and governance reforms, details on how these goals will be achieved remain vague.

Moreover, Mwanza’s history of shifting political alliances makes it difficult to see the DPP as a party grounded in vision or ability.

Rather than rallying the opposition forces, the launch adds another contender to an already crowded opposition field. With Mwanza setting tight conditions for alliances, prospects for a unified front appear more distant than ever.

For many voters, this pattern reinforces the sense that the opposition remains reactive, fragmented, and unable to present a credible alternative as Zambia approaches the 2026 elections.