LUSAKA – The opposition Tonse Alliance appears to be on shaky ground after explosive allegations emerged against Patriotic Front (PF) faction Acting President Hon. Given Lubinda. The Alliance’s spokesperson, Sean E. Tembo, has accused Lubinda and othersincluding PF Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda of scheming to oust Alliance Chairman and former Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
According to a letter signed by Mr. Tembo, who also chairs the Alliance’s Ad Hoc Disciplinary Committee, Lubinda is alleged to have held clandestine meetings with senior members of the Socialist Party (SP), including Akende M’membe, daughter to SP President Fred M’membe, and SP National Youth Chairman Kelvin Kaunda.
The meetings, reportedly captured in an audio recording circulating on social media, allegedly discuss plans to destabilize the Tonse Alliance and replace Dr. Lungu as chairman. The same recording reportedly mocks Lungu’s extended medical stay in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mr. Tembo has since given Mr. Lubinda seven days to respond with an “exculpatory explanation.” The Alliance has formed an Ad Hoc Disciplinary Committee to investigate the matter, warning that further steps will be taken within 14 days based on the Committee’s findings.
At the time of writing, Mr. Lubinda has not responded to the allegations.
It must be noted that this story remains unconfirmed, and the contents herein are based on an internal letter shared with the media. The full text of the letter is reproduced below, as received:
23rd April 2025
Hon. Given Lubinda
Member of the TONSE ALLIANCE Council of Leaders
& Patriotic Front Acting President
Lusaka, Zambia
Dear Honorable Lubinda,
REF: REQUEST FOR AN EXCULPATORY EXPLANATION WITH REGARD TO THE ALLEGED PLOT TO HIJACK THE TONSE ALLIANCE AND OUST OUR CHAIRMAN, DR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU
1. I write with reference to the matter captioned above, as well as an audio recording that is currently circulating on social media, and which was shared in the official TONSE ALLIANCE Council of Leaders WhatsApp group, this morning.
2. The audio recording in question allegedly captures a conversation between the Socialist Party President’s daughter, Ms. Akende M’membe, who also serves as SP Chairperson for International Relations, with the SP National Youth Chairman, Mr. Kelvin Kaunda. The two senior members of SP are heard scheming to destabilize the TONSE ALLIANCE and also replace the Chairman, who is also the 6th Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and they are also heard ridiculing and mocking our Chairman’s continued medical stay in Johannesburg, South Africa.
3. In the premises above, and in accordance with article 23(j) of our Constitution, the TONSE ALLIANCE has constituted an Ad hoc Disciplinary Committee, with myself as Chairman, to investigate this matter. In this regard, I wish to request from yourself, as I hereby do, that you provide my Committee with an exculpatory explanation, within 7 calendar days, regarding the meetings that you have been having with the senior leadership of the Socialist Party, and other unknown persons, in the recent past. The said meetings were held without the sanction or knowledge of the Alliance, and only came to light because of some leaked photos. In accordance with article 23(j) iii of the TONSE ALLIANCE Constitution, my Ad hoc Disciplinary Committee will proceed to submit its report and recommendations to the Council of leaders within 14 calendar days from today.
Yours in Service of the Nation:
(Signed)
Sean E. Tembo
PeP PRESIDENT, TONSE ALLIANCE SPOKESPERSON
& CHAIRMAN OF AD HOC DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
CC: The Chairman, TONSE ALLIANCE
No. 8 Off Alick Nkhata, Mass Media, Lusaka Zambia
Contact: +260 971 195 870
Twitter…
Whilst Sean Tembo is sorely focused on ECL, this alliance has not given us any glimpse of how they intend to come and sort out the economic mess brought about by the UPND government. All your infighting is irrelevant to us, citizens want to see a SMART, realistic ,practical and implementable plan but no more vama sworn in at 10hrs bla bla bla….
This alliance is not serious, it should just be on the list of deregistration, the way Zambians are waiting for Nkana Football club to be deregistered as it has departed from the objectives of what it was registered for. Even sad to hear the FAZ SG saying the disciplinary hearing will be chaired by independent people so he hopes the outcome will be accepted. Is there even an issue of acceptance here surely?
Sean, please free yourself from ECL and look at the country. Economy is bleeding, governance is bleeding but you are so fixated on Edgar Lungu.
The economic problems we are going through right now are not new even developed countries have also gone through them. We are the causer of these problems ourselves Zambians no one else. Here is my question when we graduate from colleges our focus is to find a job or highly paying jobs right? We think that our degrees will make our country prosper, that is totally wrong. The short answer here is graduate then engage us in innovation and invention so that we start producing quality products for export to enable as earn meaningful income for the country. How many people here remember tip top tarino and leco buses, that was the correct path we abandoned, had we continued following it, by now Zambia would have been a country to admire.
People were promised. Don’t bring things outside the agenda. If you make people expectant and fail to deliver, you can’t start saying other things.
Kasongo yeye… mobali na ngai…
It is very normal for people to meet or discuss privately, then afterwards, inform others. There is no issue here, storm in a tea cup. Work on the economy, you don’t have time
What is in tatters pamene apa?