We haven’t endorsed Mundubile, we’re backing HH – CBU students

The Copperbelt University Student Union (COBUSU) has strongly distanced itself from a political endorsement that recently made rounds across media platforms, wherein a faction of purported students threw their weight behind Tonse Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile. Speaking to the press in Kitwe, COBUSU President Given Chipewo categorically rejected the association, clarifying that the individuals seen in the video endorsing the opposition candidate were neither legitimate students nor representatives of the university's vibrant academic community. According to Chipewo, the group that fronted the endorsement was spearheaded by a former student who had previously faced expulsion from the institution. The student union leadership alleged that the said individual was entangled in severe disciplinary infractions, including an accommodation-related scam that defrauded unsuspecting students of over K200,000. Chipewo asserted that because the ringleader was merely masquerading as a student, the union initially chose to treat the political stunt with the contempt it deserved rather than issuing an immediate formal rebuttal. Weighing in on the broader political landscape ahead of the general elections, Chipewo maintained that the overwhelming majority of legitimate CBU students remain firmly aligned with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and the candidature of President Hakainde Hichilema. He claimed that those who appeared at the opposition rally were induced with nominal incentives, contrasting their turnout with what he described as genuine, spontaneous student gatherings in support of the incumbent head of state. Student leaders emphasized that the current administration's interventions—such as increased bursary sponsorship slots, meal allowances, and infrastructure development on campus—have directly benefited the student populace, cementing their loyalty. The controversy highlights the fierce competition for youth and student vote