Dr. Nevers Mumba, President of the New Nation Party (NNP) and a key figure in the ruling UPND Alliance, has issued a strong warning to Zambians not to support politicians who are exploiting the image and name of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu for electoral gain.
Speaking in a widely circulated interview on Sun FM TV, Mumba described the practice as “spiritually dangerous” and unprecedented in Zambia’s political history. He urged voters, particularly Christians, to remain vigilant against emotional and supernatural manipulation ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“It is wrong for politicians to use the face of the dead president and the name of the dead president to further their political campaign,” Mumba stated. He emphasized that elections should be contested on the basis of policies, ideas, leadership, and a vision for the future — not the memory or unburied status of a deceased leader.
Mumba, a pastor and former Vice President, expressed concern that some factions are invoking the “spirit of the dead” in their campaigns, potentially leading the nation into spiritual captivity. He called on the public not to be swayed by sympathy or the ongoing controversy surrounding Lungu’s remains, which have not yet been buried following his death in 2025.
“Elections are about the living and the future of our children,” he added, appealing for national unity and a rejection of divisive tactics or hate speech.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions as Zambia prepares for the August 2026 polls. Lungu, who served as the country’s sixth president, remains a polarizing figure even in death, with disputes over his burial continuing to influence public discourse.
Mumba’s comments have drawn mixed reactions online, with some praising his call for issue-based politics while others view it as an attempt to counter opposition strategies leveraging Lungu’s legacy.
As the election campaign period intensifies, political analysts expect debates over legacy, governance records, and national priorities to dominate the conversation.
This article is based on Mumba’s statements as reported by Sun FM Zambia and other local media outlets.