THEY WILL CRY AFTER AUGUST 13 …HH mocks Mundubile, Makebi over election bid

LUSAKA – President Hakainde Hichilema has confidently declared that the opposition Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance, spearheaded by presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, is destined for electoral defeat in the upcoming general elections on August 13th. Speaking with characteristic assertiveness, the head of state indicated that the opposition figures would "cry after August 13," a stark prediction reflecting the heightened political tension and confidence within the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) camp. The August 13th election is poised to be a pivotal moment for Zambia, marking the first national test of the country's new mixed electoral system and a political landscape increasingly dominated by competing coalitions. President Hichilema, seeking a second term, leads the formidable UPND Alliance, which has expanded significantly to include 15 member parties, providing him with a broad political base. His campaign has focused on economic stability, job creation, and digital voter registration reforms, building on a first term that saw successes in debt restructuring, reduced fiscal deficits, and improved transparency. Conversely, the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance represents a significant opposition bloc, with Brian Mundubile, a former Member of Parliament for Mporokoso and Leader of the Opposition, as its presidential candidate, and Makebi Zulu, a lawyer and former minister, as his running mate. This alliance emerged from a merger between the Tonse Alliance and the PF Pamodzi Alliance, aiming to consolidate opposition strength against the incumbent. Both Mundubile and Zulu have deep roots in the former ruling Patriotic Front (PF), a party that left office under a cloud of corruption allegations and economic challenges, a point frequently highlighted by the UPND. The President's recent campaign activities have seen him draw massive crowds, even in areas traditionally considered opposition strongholds like Mporokoso, Mundubile'