UPND Alliance

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UPND Alliance
LeaderHakainde Hichilema
ChairpersonCharles Milupi
Founded14 February 2021; 4 years ago (2021-02-14)
Ideology
Political position
Colours  Green
  Red
  Orange
  Black
(Zambian national colors)
Slogan“One Zambia, One Nation, One People”
Member partiesUnited Party for National Development
Movement for Democratic Change
Alliance for Democracy and Development
Economic Front
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy
Party of National Unity and Progress
National Assembly seats
84 / 156

The UPND Alliance is a political coalition in Zambia, formed in 2021 to consolidate opposition parties ahead of the general elections. Led by the United Party for National Development (UPND), the alliance included the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) as members at the time of the 2021 general election, with more joining afterwards.[1] The coalition was created to unify opposition forces against the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), aiming to address Zambia's political and economic challenges.[2][3]

History

[edit]

In late 2018, an alliance of 10 political parties in Zambia was formed, named the Opposition Alliance, with an agenda to oust the incumbent party in government (Patriotic Front) at the next election in 2021.[4][5] The chairperson of the alliance was Charles Milupi, the president for the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) party. The alliance also consisted of the United Party for National Development (UPND), National Democratic Congress (NDC), National Restoration Party (NAREP), United National Independence Party (UNIP), People's Alliance for Change (PAC), Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP), Republican Progressive Party (RPP), New Labour Party (NLP) and People's Party (PP).[4][5]

In February 2019, PAC left the alliance.[6][7] On 11 July 2019, the PeP president, Sean Tembo, decided that his party will leave the alliance.[8][9] In April 2020, NAREP was removed from the alliance.[10]

The Opposition Alliance decided in January 2021 that in all elective positions (president, mayor, member of parliament and ward councillor), they would field single candidates in the upcoming 2021 general election.[11] The following month, the Opposition Alliance officially chose Hakainde Hichilema of the UPND to be the flag carrier of the alliance and the sole presidential candidate for the alliance at the 2021 general election, while also deciding that only the UPND will be used for candidacy identification in all elective positions.[12][13] The Opposition Alliance was officially rebranded as the UPND Alliance.[12][13]

In May 2021, members of The Zambia We Want Alliance decided to merge into the UPND Alliance. These include the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, Zambia Shall Prosper Movement (ZSP), Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) and Movement for Change and Equality.[14][15]

The general election took place on 12 August 2021, with the UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema winning the presidential vote to become the seventh president of Zambia.[16] The party also won the parliamentary vote in 82 of the 156 constituencies. The following month, President Hichilema decided to add two of his alliance partners to the list of nominated members of parliament, namely the MDC president, Felix Mutati, and the UPND Alliance Chairperson and ADD president, Charles Milupi.[17] Mutati was appointed as the Minister of Technology and Science[18][19] while Milupi was appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.[20][19]

In late 2024, the Economic Front (EF) party (formerly Rainbow Party) decided to join the UPND Alliance.[21][22] The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) decided to join the alliance on 30 October 2024, effectively deciding that it will not field its own candidate at the 2026 general election.[23] The Party of National Unity and Progress (PNUP) decided to join the alliance in December 2024, also deciding that it will not field its own candidate.[24]

Constituent parties

[edit]

The UPND Alliance is currently composed of the following political parties:

Party Abbreviation Ideology National Assembly of Zambia Government
United Party for National Development UPND Liberalism
Social democracy
83 / 156
 In government
Party of National Unity and Progress PNUP Conservatism
1 / 156
 In government
Alliance for Democracy and Development ADD Democratic principles
0 / 156
 In government but not represented in the National Assembly
Movement for Democratic Change MDC Democracy
0 / 156
 In government but not represented in the National Assembly
Economic Front EF Socialism
0 / 156
 In government but not represented in the National Assembly
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy MMD Democracy
0 / 156
 In government but not represented in the National Assembly

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "UPND Alliance intact - Mutati". Zambia Daily Mail. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Opposition parties form UPND Alliance with HH as presidential candidate". Open Zambia. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  3. ^ "All presidents of parties which are part of UPND alliance deserve jobs - Msoni". News Diggers. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Zambia : 10 opposition political parties resolved to work together to field candidates for 2021 Elections". 31 December 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Opposition Politicians Unite Against PF". Open Zambia. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Opposition Alliance kicks out PAC's Andyford Banda". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Being in the Opposition Alliance tarnished my image – Andyford". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  8. ^ says, T. J. (12 July 2019). "Opposition Alliance spokesperson quits". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Zambia : Sean Tembo withdraws PEP from Opposition Alliance". Lusaka Times. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Opposition Alliance kick out NAREP". Lusaka Times. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Opposition Alliance considering fielding single candidates for all positions – Milupi". Zambia: News Diggers!. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Zambia : Opposition Alliance will now be called UPND Alliance and I'll be the Alliance Presidential Candidate-HH". Lusaka Times. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Opposition Parties Form 'UPND Alliance', With HH As Presidential Candidate". Open Zambia. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Zambia : KBF, Mutati join UPND Alliance to unseat PF". 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Plot to oust Lungu thickens, Mutati, KBF join UPND Alliance - Zambian Eye". Zambian Eye - Breaking News and Current Affairs. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema wins presidential election". Reuters. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  17. ^ zamobserver (23 June 2022). "There Is No Alliance Between Us And The UPND- Nason Msoni - The Zambian Observer". Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Zambia : Felix Mutati: Pursuit of happiness through digital migration". Lusaka Times. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  19. ^ a b "HH Names Full Cabinet, Appoints New BOZ Governor". Open Zambia. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Zambia : Open Letter to the Minister of Infrastructure And Urban Development". Lusaka Times. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Wynter Kabimba has joined the UPND Alliance". Zambian Observer. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  22. ^ SICHULA, AUGUSTINE (1 September 2024). "Economic Front joins UPND alliance, gives reasons for dumping UKA | Zambia Monitor". Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  23. ^ Chilunda, Regina (30 October 2024). "MMD JOINS UPND ALLIANCE | Radio Christian Voice". Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Hamududu re-announces joining UPND Alliance". Daily Revelation. Retrieved 9 December 2024.