Lungu campaigned for 3 weeks and won, a month is enough for us – Kapata

LUSAKA – The Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed unwavering confidence in its electoral prospects, with senior party figures asserting that a condensed campaign period is more than sufficient to secure victory. This sentiment, articulated by former Mandevu Member of Parliament and PF Central Committee member Jean Kapata, harks back to the 2015 presidential by-election where then-candidate Edgar Lungu clinched the presidency after a mere three-week campaign. Kapata's remarks, made amidst ongoing political discourse regarding election preparedness and campaign strategies, underscore a perceived strength within the former ruling party. "President Lungu campaigned for three weeks and won. A month is enough for us," Kapata reportedly stated, drawing a direct parallel that suggests the PF believes its established base and political machinery can replicate past successes with minimal overt campaigning. This perspective challenges the conventional wisdom that longer campaign cycles are necessary to reach voters and articulate policy positions effectively. Such a strategy, if indeed adopted, would rely heavily on the party's existing structures, grassroots mobilization, and perhaps a strong reliance on its past record and the public's memory of its governance. For a party that governed Zambia for a decade, the argument could be made that its footprint is already deeply ingrained across the country, requiring less introductory campaigning and more focused messaging to energize its base and sway undecided voters. However, the political landscape in Zambia has evolved significantly since 2015. The current economic challenges, coupled with shifts in voter demographics and increased scrutiny from civil society and independent media, present a different environment. Any party banking on a brief campaign would need to ensure its messaging is exceptionally potent and resonates deeply with the aspirations and grievances of the Zambian populace, particularly the youth who constitute